KOBANI, Syria (North Press) – Kobani city, in northeastern Syria's Euphrates region, has recently witnessed hundreds of cases of food poisoning among residents as a result of spoiled meat.
North Press toured the city to hear civilians' complaints about the spoiled meat that they bought from butchers.
Kobani resident Abdo Haj Barkal told North Press that "last week I bought an amount of meat; when I took it home and we wanted to cook it, I noticed that the meat changed color and had an unpleasant smell.”
He threw the meat away and did not cook it, especially since he had heard about hundreds of cases of food poisoning in Kobani this year as a result of eating spoiled meat or other expired foodstuffs.
Barkal pointed out that he had not filed any complaint against the meat seller, but he said that the Supply Directorate must follow up on the phenomenon and monitor the shops more closely, especially since there are those who eat these foods without realizing their health consequences.
The number of people infected with food poisoning in Kobani Hospital during the months of June and July last reached 266, according to Kobani Hospital records.
According to the administration of Kobani hospital, "the main cause of these cases is due to eating foods that are either badly stored or preserved, contaminated with bacteria or expired."
Ahmed Tammo, an internal medicine doctor, told North Press that "If the meat has an odor or changes from its usual color, this may indicate the presence and multiplication of germs in it. Even if it is cooked well, it will lead to poisoning for those who eat it."
Tammo added that when the person buys meat from butcher stores, they must pay attention to its color because spoiled meat turns a bluish color due to the presence and multiplication of germs. When it is eaten, poisoning occurs, causing diarrhea and vomiting, which may lead to dehydration.
The Supply Directorate in Kobani, along with the municipality office, recently cited four stores for selling spoiled meat, including one in which the rotten meat was repeatedly sold more than once, as the shop was closed for the fourth time, according to an official in the municipality office, Jalal Ali.
Ali mentioned that the high price of meat affects residents' ability to buy, which contributes to the delay in its sale. The municipality will warn unclean shops, without a fine. But if there is spoiled meat, it will be confiscated and the owner will be fined 25,000 Syrian pounds.
In the event of repeat violators, the owner is fined 50,000 SYP, and 100,000 for the third violation. The fourth time, the shop is closed permnanetly, according to Ali.
(reporting by Victor Mustafa)