The deaths of a mother, father, and two children from a family who were hospitalized from their hotel in Fatih on suspicion of food poisoning after eating at a restaurant in Beşiktaş, and the subsequent revelation that the hotel had recently been sprayed with pesticides, have focused attention on hotel and business pest control practices.
Prof. Dr. Kaan Yılancıoğlu stated that people will naturally eat out and drink coffee, as this is a social need, adding, “However, citizens should prefer transparent businesses they trust and whose kitchens they can see, as much as possible.”
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu also stated that citizens who will have pest control done should definitely check the certificates and permits of the experts, saying, “No service should be received from anyone without a permit or certificate. Furthermore, if pest control is to be done, it should not be forgotten that one or two days should be spent away from home. The same applies to businesses.”
Prof. Dr. Kaan Yılancıoğlu, Head of the Department of Biosecurity at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Institute of Addiction and Forensic Sciences, evaluated the poisoning incident that caused the deaths of a 4-person family in Fatih.
“These poisoning cases are not one-day problems”
Prof. Dr. Kaan Yılancıoğlu said, “The situation of our family coming to Turkey from Germany is truly a very grave tragedy. What happened deeply saddened and angered all of us. Because these types of incidents emerge as the results of simple negligence and carelessness.”
Stating that “These poisoning cases are not one-day problems,” Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu emphasized that different examples of food poisoning are frequently experienced in daily life but do not come to the agenda until such great tragedies occur.
“There is a serious lack of education”
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu stated that everyday carelessness can sometimes lead to fatal consequences, saying, “Numerous poisoning cases occur every day with examples such as filling an unknown water bottle with detergent, or mixing hydrochloric acid and bleach. These incidents are a major social problem. These should not be seen as simple negligence. There is a serious lack of education.”
None of us would think that pest control might have been done with a toxic chemical!
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu, stating that food poisoning is actually an infection, continued as follows:
“This infection can lead to diarrhea, commonly known as upset stomach; your stomach may be upset, you may feel weak. In some cases, mild stomach discomfort that recovers by the next day may also be seen. As a result, this picture is an infection. However, if in a serious situation you experience shortness of breath, severe muscle cramps and pains begin, intense drowsiness, nausea, headache, meaning shifts, or double vision, you would, of course, urgently go to the hospital. But none of us would think that coffee prepared with detergent could be drunk, or that a highly toxic chemical might have been used for pest control in the hotel where you stayed without ventilation.”
Most gases are odorless and tasteless…
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu, drawing attention to the possibility of chemical-induced poisoning in the hotel incident, reminded that in fumigation-type gas pest control, the area must be kept closed for a few days and then ventilated for a long time.
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu stated, “Most of these gases are odorless and tasteless. People can only realize they are poisoned when serious symptoms begin. Therefore, businesses have a very great responsibility.”
Pest control should not be done with unauthorized products or by unauthorized persons!
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu stated that pest control should only be carried out by expert firms certified by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, saying, “Pest control should absolutely not be done with unauthorized products or by unauthorized persons. The certificates of the chemicals used must be checked, and the procedure to be performed must be reported to neighbors and management. If fumigation is to be applied, not only the target apartment but also other floors may be affected. Therefore, it is essential that everyone is informed.”
Businesses have no luxury of ignoring their responsibilities!
Emphasizing the need to increase social awareness, Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu pointed out that inspections should continue in a deterrent manner and that businesses have no luxury of ignoring their responsibilities.
Prof. Dr. Yılancıoğlu said, “I want to particularly address businesses here: We constantly say ‘inspection, inspection,’ but neither a police officer nor a municipal guard can be stationed over every single person. No matter how many inspections are carried out, as long as individuals do not know their responsibilities, unfortunately, poisoning cases and deaths will continue. First, this needs to be understood. Because these people are from within society; they are all our friends, acquaintances, or neighbors. Those who die are like that, and those who cause these deaths are like that. As a society, we need to confront this big lesson. Secondly, it is essential that inspections continue in a deterrent manner without any compromise.”
“No service should be received from anyone without a permit or certificate”
Prof. Dr. Kaan Yılancıoğlu stated that people will naturally eat out and drink coffee, as this is a social need, adding, “However, citizens should prefer transparent businesses they trust and whose kitchens they can see, as much as possible. Citizens who will have pest control done also need to absolutely check the certificates and permits of the experts. No service should be received from anyone without a permit or certificate. Furthermore, if pest control is to be done, it should not be forgotten that one or two days should be spent away from home. The same applies to businesses. After returning home, the environment must be ventilated for 4-5 hours. Only in this way can a safe environment be provided. It is also vital that those performing pest control do not hide the situation from neighbors or management. People's lives should not end so dramatically. The tragedy experienced by that family is very painful. As a society, we need to understand this and not shirk our responsibilities.” He concluded his words.