22.06.2026 19:31
Food left exposed in the summer can cause serious food poisoning. Emergency Medicine Specialist Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özgür Erdoğan said, 'Our food poisoning cases have increased significantly. The most common poisonings come from products like chicken and mussels. Symptoms such as nausea, fever, diarrhea, dizziness, recurrent vomiting, and similar complaints can make you think of poisoning related to the food you ate. Poisoning can lead to death.'
With the arrival of summer months, rising temperatures can cause food to spoil faster and lead to poisoning. Particularly for perishable foods such as meat, milk, eggs, chicken, and seafood, not being stored under necessary conditions, consuming products left out, and not maintaining the cold chain, experts repeatedly issue warnings at every opportunity. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özgür Erdoğan, Administrative Director of the Emergency Medicine Department at Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital, also warned against food poisoning. Prof. Dr. Erdoğan provided information on symptoms and gave important advice to citizens.
"DIARRHEA, DIZZINESS, REPEATED VOMITING"
Starting his remarks by saying 'The risks associated with food poisoning increase exponentially in summer months,' Prof. Dr. Mehmet Özgür Erdoğan stated, "The most important variable is the significant rise in temperatures and the rapid multiplication of bacteria on food. In summer, what we need to be most cautious about are seafood, chicken and related dishes, and foods left exposed. Foods we leave outside for long periods, don't refrigerate, or break the cold chain can seriously increase the risk of food poisoning. Street foods, especially mussels, require caution. If you eat chicken and a few hours later develop nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, dizziness, repeated vomiting, or similar complaints, these are symptoms that could make you suspect food poisoning related to the food you ate."
"POISONING CAN LEAD TO DEATH"
Stating that immediate medical consultation is necessary when poisoning is suspected, Erdoğan said, "Delayed poisonings can be more troublesome and result in systemic poisoning. If symptoms start after 48-72 hours, it could indicate a more serious poisoning, so caution is needed. Poisoning can lead to death, or if not, it can make you very sick and uncomfortable. When we don't cook chicken properly, especially if the internal temperature doesn't reach above 75 degrees Celsius, serious bacteria like salmonella and campylobacter, which can cause typhoid, can multiply and make us severely ill. Even having a simple barbecue could give us typhoid. Proper cooking of food carries extra importance. Children, pregnant women, those with comorbidities, individuals with suppressed immune systems, or patients receiving oncology treatment are at higher risk and can experience more severe cases."
"OUR FOOD POISONING ADMISSIONS HAVE SERIOUSLY INCREASED"
Speaking about admissions due to poisoning, Erdoğan said, "Our food poisoning admissions have seriously increased. Both the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Health conduct very strict inspections and controls. We must pay attention to what we eat and drink, their hygiene, and try to ensure these products are not stale. At the treatment stage, we assess the patient, examine their fluid needs, blood pressure, and vital signs, and if necessary, we can administer IV fluids. Treatment can vary greatly depending on the situation and which food caused the poisoning. For example; a mushroom poisoning patient may require dialysis. The most common poisonings are from chicken and products like mussels. Every year at this time, there is a noticeable peak."