DUSHANBE (Avesta news agency) — Deputy Prime Minister of Tajikistan Azim Ibrohim (uwdl hfvhidl) held a regular meeting of the coordinating council headed by him on food safety issues. During the meeting, he demanded from the responsible persons responsible for food safety the report on the implementation of the work plan of the coordinating council for food safety in the first half of 2017.

It was noted an increase botulism cases, including fatalities. This is mainly due to the use of canned products manufactured at home. Botulism is a rare but sometimes fatal paralytic illness caused by botulinum toxin which is a protein produced under anaerobic conditions by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, and affecting a wide range of mammals, birds and fish.

A photomicrograph of Clostridium botulinum bacteria.

Azim Ibrohim said that for this year, because of failing to meet sanitary standards in Tajikistan, 4,346 officials who were fined 525,000 somoni were brought to justice. More than 10 tons of low-quality food products were seized from circulation.

In January-May of this year, Tajikistan recorded 10 cases of food poisoning, including 8 cases of botulism, one person was killed. Botulism can be prevented by killing the spores by pressure cooking or autoclaving at 121°C for 30 minutes or providing conditions that prevent the spores from growing.

The Vice Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Health and Social Protection to speed up the process of preparing a draft nutrition allowance to prevent obesity, for pregnant women, people with radiculitis and preschool children.