“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves”: Kobakhidze commented on mass poisoning at Tbilisi kindergartens

 @NGnewsgeorgia. Food suppliers to Tbilisi kindergartens will be held accountable if the investigation confirms their guilt in the mass poisoning of children. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said this during a visit to Batumi.

The prime minister insists that the quality of food in kindergartens is monitored on an ongoing basis. He urged the public not to “jump to conclusions”.

“Overall, monitoring is being carried out. There is a specific company that provides food and related services throughout the capital. Apparently, a specific problem has arisen, but I will not jump to conclusions. The main thing is for the relevant agencies to establish the cause and determine whether a specific company or companies are at fault. In that case, the question of accountability will definitely arise,” the prime minister said.

According to official data, symptoms of intoxication (acute vomiting and abdominal pain) were recorded in 55 children and one teacher from 20 kindergartens in Tbilisi. The children were urgently hospitalized in six city clinics. Seven institutions temporarily suspended operations on the recommendation of epidemiologists.

The Investigation Service of Georgia’s Ministry of Finance opened a criminal case under Part 2 of Article 198 of Georgia’s Criminal Code (the production or sale of products dangerous to life and health).

As part of the investigation, investigators and experts from the National Food Agency conducted searches at four kindergartens and three food-supply companies. More than 50 parents and medical workers were questioned. According to the preliminary version, the poisoning was caused by a bacterial infection in the delivered food products; the seized food samples were sent for laboratory examination.

There are 190 public kindergartens operating in Tbilisi, serving more than 61,000 children. The educational process at these institutions resumed after the summer holidays on September 15.