Over 200 suffer food poisoning in Iraq’s Anbar after Eid fast food meal

Dubai: More than 200 people in Iraq’s Anbar governorate fell ill with food poisoning during the Eid holiday after consuming burger meals from a single fast food outlet, local health officials said.

The Anbar Health Directorate confirmed 214 cases of food poisoning over a two-day period, with the majority of patients,191 individuals, treated at Fallujah Teaching Hospital.

An additional 18 cases were handled at Fallujah Maternity and Children’s Hospital, and five more at Amiriya General Hospital. All patients experienced mild to moderate symptoms and were discharged after receiving medical care. No deaths have been reported.

The outbreak has been traced to a popular fast-food vendor in Fallujah, though the business has not yet been named by authorities.

In a statement, the Anbar Health Directorate announced an ongoing investigation and pledged legal action if food safety violations are found.

The incident comes amid heightened demand for restaurant food during Eid, a period of celebration and social gatherings across Iraq.

Authorities say they are taking steps to enhance oversight of food vendors, including inspections and stricter enforcement of hygiene standards. “We are committed to protecting public health and are taking all necessary legal and health steps to prevent such incidents from happening again,” the health directorate said.

Foodborne illness outbreaks linked to unregulated or poorly monitored vendors is still a persistent challenge in parts of Iraq, where compliance with health codes can vary widely.

 -- Huda Ata is an independent writer based in the UAE