Samples of 30+ items taken from home of Karachi minors allegedly killed by 'food poisoning'

KARACHI: A statement from the mother of the two minor boys, who passed away allegedly after consuming substandard food at a local eatery, was recorded Monday night, investigation sources said.

According to the sources, samples of more than 30 items from the residence of the bereaved family were taken and are scheduled to be sent to a laboratory for chemical analysis. The home was consequently sealed.

Further, the closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the playland, wherefrom the family bought sweets, and the restaurant, where the deceased last dined, were also being analysed, the sources noted.

The final cause of death can fully be ascertained after the post-mortem and laboratory reports are released, the sources added.

Restaurant was served notice earlier

Children's deaths: Karachi restaurant was served notice two months ago

Restaurant had been inspected around two months ago and was served an improvement notice along with a checklist, says Sindh Food Authority director

According to Abrar Sheikh, the director of the Sindh Food Authority, the restaurant in question had been served an improvement notice two months prior.

Speaking of the two children's deaths on Sunday due to alleged “food poisoning”, Sheikh told Geo Pakistan: “The restaurant had been inspected around two months ago and was served an improvement notice along with a checklist.”

“We did not issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to the restaurant,” Sheikh said while adding that they did not “have a certificate or registration process in place earlier”.

“We will start the process of registering eateries across the province from the end of this month,” he further said.

Chemical analysis report due in 5-10 days

Two children, identified as 18-month-old Ahmed and Muhammad, 5, lost their lives on Sunday afternoon allegedly due to food poisoning after dining at a restaurant in the city's Zamzama area.

While police have initiated a probe into the matter and the restaurant has been sealed for forensic investigation, a post-mortem of the two children was completed Sunday night.

According to Dr Shiraz, the medico-legal officer (MLO) at Jinnah Hospital, the brothers apparently died due to food poisoning. He said a report subsequent to the deceased children's post-mortem had been reserved and samples from the bodies and blood specimens were and sent to a laboratory for analysis.

The chemical analysis report from body samples and blood specimens would be released in approximately 5-10 days, Dr Shiraz mentioned, after which the final cause of death could be ascertained.