Mass Food Poisoning in Tiznit, Morocco Sickens 36; Snack Bar Closed for Investigation

A few days after the poisoning, 17 of the victims were admitted to the regional hospital in Tiznit, while another was transferred to the Hassan II hospital in Agadir to receive the necessary medical care. As for the other 18 patients, they were successfully treated. These 36 people experienced symptoms of food poisoning such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain after eating at the snack bar. Alerted by the incident, medical teams arrived on the scene and the victims received first aid before being transferred to hospitals.

After the incident, the local authorities proceeded to close the snack bar. A thorough investigation is underway to determine the causes of the poisoning. The preliminary investigation reveals that a probable failure in the storage of food or non-compliance with hygiene and food safety standards would be the cause of this food poisoning. To prevent such incidents from recurring, especially in the summer when the rise in temperatures increases the risk of food deterioration, the authorities are urged to take strict measures.

In a statement to Aljarida24, Ahmed Bayoud, founding president of the association "With Consumers", said that many snack bars and restaurants bought large quantities of meat sold on the street during the last Eid al-Adha, "which is unsanitary due to exposure to heat, thus contributing to cases of poisoning". According to him, the recent increase in cases of food poisoning in Morocco highlights the urgent need to take effective measures to protect the health of consumers, especially during the summer holidays when the demand for food and drinks increases. He therefore calls for intensifying inspections and health checks of restaurants and cafes serving food and drinks, through the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) and imposing severe penalties on offenders to prevent recidivism.