Image Credits - Wantan
Riyadh Municipality confirmed on Friday that initial investigation results by health authorities suggest a single company was responsible for several cases of food poisoning last week caused by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which left dozens of people hospitalized.
The municipality stated that the company in question could face fines over the outbreak that came to light on April 25. All of its branches and food-processing facilities in Riyadh and Al-Kharj remain closed.
The amount of any potential fine will be determined based on existing legislation, the full investigation findings, and the severity of the incident’s effects on those who fell ill, the municipality added.
While the company’s name was not disclosed, the municipality did not specify how long the closures would last. However, it stated that all food products from the facilities would be destroyed, and the cleaning and disinfecting processes of all buildings, tools, and machinery would be supervised by municipal officials.
“We confirm the safety of food products for restaurants, kitchens, cafes and caterers in the Riyadh region, as no cases have been recorded from other than the aforementioned source,” the municipality assured.
Previously, Arab News had reported that a number of food poisoning cases appeared to be linked to the Hamburgini fast-food chain.
Riyadh Municipality stated that health oversight teams took prompt action to investigate and monitor the situation as soon as reports of food poisoning cases emerged.
On April 26, Nawaf Al-Fozan, the founder and CEO of Hamburgini, confirmed the chain’s involvement in the outbreak through a video shared on its Instagram page.
In a separate statement on Friday, the Saudi Ministry of Health also confirmed that all cases in the food poisoning outbreak were linked to the same source.
The ministry revealed that 75 people were affected, including one death and no new cases were recorded over the past five days. Of the total cases, 69 were Saudi nationals, and 6 were non-Saudis. While 50 cases were diagnosed with Clostridium botulinum, 43 patients have fully recovered and been discharged, 11 are undergoing treatment, and 20 are being closely monitored in intensive care units (ICUs).
The ministry stressed the importance of relying on official sources for information and urged against spreading rumours or false information.