The Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency has issued another statement regarding the cases of intoxication among children, noting that 184 kindergartens are continuing the educational process as usual, with no cases of children falling ill reported during the day.

According to the agency, the procedures for delivering, storing, preparing and serving food products at kindergartens are subject to strict daily controls to ensure that children receive safe food that meets the required standards.

“Given the high public interest, we would like to inform you that the vast majority of Tbilisi kindergartens, specifically 184 kindergartens, are continuing the educational process as usual, caring for children and ensuring food is provided from the receipt of products through to final consumption.

No cases of children falling ill were reported during the day. At this stage, the provision of the municipal preschool education service has been temporarily suspended at seven kindergartens where several cases of illness were recorded.

We fully stand by our statement that the procedures for delivering, storing, preparing and serving food products at kindergartens are subject to strict daily controls to ensure that children receive safe food that meets the required standards.

Sanitary and hygiene norms and requirements are also meticulously observed.

The system for providing food to children in Tbilisi kindergartens has complied with local and international standards for years.

The HACCP standard has been implemented in kindergartens, ensuring a safe food supply chain from producer to final consumer. Every product entering a kindergarten is accompanied by laboratory test reports and other mandatory documentation. In addition, samples of specific products are kept for a certain period of time.

It should also be noted that before the start of the educational process, kindergarten food facilities are inspected by both food safety agency experts and specialists from the Monitoring Department of the Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency. The specialists also inspect the environment at the kindergartens, food storage facilities, temperature conditions, product quality, expiration dates and other relevant factors.

We reiterate that no increase in the number of kindergarten children seeking medical attention at clinics was recorded during the day.

As for the cases recorded over the past 24 hours and the possible causes of the illnesses, the matter is still under investigation. The Tbilisi Kindergarten Management Agency is awaiting the experts’ findings, after which additional explanations will be provided,” the statement said.

For context, the Investigation Service has launched an investigation into the cases of intoxication at kindergartens. Signs of intoxication have been reported among 55 children and one staff member from 20 kindergartens in Tbilisi, who received medical assistance at six medical facilities.

According to the Investigation Service, more than 50 legal representatives of children, as well as medical facility employees, have already been questioned as part of the investigation.

“At this stage, based on the available information, the intoxication may be linked to a bacterial infection, the source of which is presumably food products consumed at the kindergartens. The specific product that caused the intoxication will be determined through the relevant expert examination. The investigation is ongoing. Items, documents and food products relevant to the case will be seized from all kindergartens where cases of intoxication were recorded,” the statement said.

The National Food Agency has also launched an inquiry into the suspected cases of intoxication among children at kindergartens.