26.07.2026 13:19
In the Kartepe district of Kocaeli, Serkan Abut, who is undergoing lymphoma cancer treatment, experienced food poisoning caused by listeria bacteria after consuming cheese from the Tahsildaroğlu brand he purchased. Abut said, 'The company got back to me. They said, "We are very sorry, let us send you cheese." As if they were joking. I'm losing my life because of cheese, and they told me, "Let us send you cheese." I did not accept their offer.'
Serkan Abut, who was undergoing lymphoma treatment in Kartepe, was poisoned after Listeria bacteria was detected in cheese of the Tahsildaroğlu brand. His treatment was disrupted, and Abut rejected the company's offer to 'send more cheese,' expressing his anger towards the authorities.
According to the information received, Serkan Abut, a 49-year-old undergoing neutropenia treatment, purchased 400 grams of aged 'crumbled white cheese' from the Tahsildaroğlu brand at a market in the Kartepe district on June 16. Shortly after consuming the product, Abut experienced severe nausea and cramps and was taken to the hospital. Diagnosed with food poisoning and having an official report filed, Abut stated that his cancer treatment process was also negatively affected after the poisoning, leading to serious psychological issues.
BACTERIA DETECTED
Upon the citizen's complaint, teams from the Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry conducted an inspection of the chain market. Samples were taken from products with the same batch number as the suspected cheese, and tests revealed the presence of 'Listeria bacteria' in the crumbled white cheese. It was reported that all cheeses with the same batch number as the contaminated product were ordered to be recalled.
"I FELT A BITTERNESS LIKE POISON IN MY MOUTH"
Serkan Abut, who has been fighting cancer for about 5 years, described his difficult experience. Abut said, "I have been battling lymphoma cancer for about 5 years. During this process, a mass of about 25 centimeters formed in my abdomen. This mass puts pressure on vital vessels like the celiac and superior mesenteric arteries. Therefore, I have to constantly use fentanyl-containing pain patches. On June 16, I bought Tahsildaroğlu brand crumbled cheese from a market in our neighborhood. After coming home, I wanted to eat a few bites with hot bread. Since I can't eat very fatty foods due to my illness, I usually eat light meals. After taking 3-4 bites of cheese, I felt an indescribably intense, bitter taste like poison in my mouth. Because of my condition, I can smell but only faintly. So I couldn't smell that strong odor. The expiration date of the cheese had not even passed; there were still 4 months left. When I felt the bitterness in my mouth, I stopped eating the cheese. I put it in a bag and went to the market. I told the employee, 'This cheese made my mouth feel like poison. There's something wrong with it.' He smelled it and understood. He said, 'Bro, can you bring it tomorrow? We'll exchange it.'"
"CRAMPS STARTED IN MY STOMACH LIKE A KNIFE STABBING"
Describing that his wife also felt discomfort from the smell when he returned home, Abut said, "My wife came and said, 'What is this smell in the house? It smells very bad, like rotting.' She opened the fridge, saw the cheese, and said, 'What kind of smell is this?' She asked, 'Did you eat this?' I said yes. She said, 'This is spoiled, how could you eat it?' I explained the situation. After 1.5 hours, nausea started, and cramps began in my stomach. It felt like a knife stabbing. I vomited 2 or 3 times, about 5 minutes apart. My wife was very worried. I immediately went to the hospital and reported the situation. The doctor administered the necessary treatment. After my hospital treatment was over, I came home, and then my panic attack was triggered."
"I WAS DYING FROM THE CHEESE, THEY SAID 'LET US SEND YOU CHEESE'"
Emphasizing that the poisoning disrupted his treatment, Abut stated the following:
"I have medical reports stating that the mass in my abdomen puts pressure on vital vessels. Therefore, I must regularly use fentanyl-containing pain patches. When my panic attack was triggered, I had to take psychiatric medication. About 1.5 hours after taking the medication, severe chest pain started. I felt like I was suffocating, and my head began to spin. Thinking the medication was causing side effects, I had to remove my pain patch. Since that day, I haven't been able to use my pain patches. The prosecutor's office sent me to the hospital for an official medical report. Two days after the incident, I went to the Kocaeli University Hospital Psychiatry Clinic and explained what happened. I told the doctors, 'I use pain patches, and now I've developed a panic attack. If I use one, I have pain; if I use the other, I have a panic attack. I don't know what to do.' They couldn't do anything either. There's nothing they can do. I need to take this medication too. The Tahsildaroğlu company called me. I had also written on the complaint website. I explained the situation, how my panic attack developed and that I stopped using the pain patches as a result. After 5 days, they got back to me. They said, 'We are very sorry, let us send you cheese...' As if mocking me. I was losing my life from cheese, and they said, 'Let us send you cheese.' I didn't accept their offer. I said, 'Absolutely don't send it, I don't want it. I will take you to court.'"
"WITHIN A MONTH, PEOPLE BOUGHT AND ATE IT"
Stating that he called the Food Hotline at 174 after the incident and filed an official complaint with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Abut said, "The day after my complaint, inspection teams from the Kartepe District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry came to the market and took samples from the cheese that poisoned me. The results were not reported to me. That is also a crime. The report showed Listeria bacteria. I went to the authorities there. I learned about it there. Then they called me and said, 'We are not allowed to give you this report.' Why not? I am the one who made the complaint. I am the patient, the one affected. Isn't that my right as a citizen? Isn't it my right to know what poison I ingested into my body? It is in the official report dated June 23 that Listeria bacteria was found. Yesterday was July 23. What did you do in one month? Why didn't you recall it? Did someone have to die? Within a month, people bought and ate it. Look at the complaint website too. This is not a one-day or two-day issue. There are hundreds of complaints. Isn't it a shame and a sin for these people? There have been many deaths from this. People don't know why they died. Patients like us are cancer patients with low immunity. For example, one's condition is improving, and then suddenly they get an infection. No one thinks to investigate what they ate. I will expose this too."