More than 70 children hospitalized after suspected food poisoning in Fergana kindergartens, parents demand answers

More than 70 children remain hospitalized in Fergana after showing symptoms of suspected food poisoning at several state kindergartens in the city. Three of them are currently being treated in intensive care, though doctors say their condition is stable.

The first cases were reported on February 20, when children from a number of state preschool institutions in Fergana developed fever, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The affected children were admitted to two hospitals in the city.

Parents who spoke to Kun.uz say the poisoning was caused by food provided under a centralized catering system operated by Garden Catering Trade.

Parents link illnesses to catering meals

According to parents, children began experiencing abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms shortly after returning home from kindergarten.

One mother, whose daughter attends Kindergarten No. 61, said the child developed severe abdominal pain and diarrhea on the evening of February 20, followed by a high fever of 39°C the next morning. Despite medication, the symptoms worsened, and the child was hospitalized.

“She told me they had eaten meatballs, cabbage soup and mashed potatoes. Now she is suffering in the hospital. Children have not eaten for two or three days – they only vomit, have diarrhea and fever. Who will answer for this?” the mother said.

She also claimed that staff members who consumed the same food were hospitalized.

Parents criticized the catering system, saying meals are delivered from the city of Kuvasoy to Fergana, which affects quality. They alleged that hot food is transported in plastic containers and often arrives cold.

Another parent from Kindergarten No. 58 said her twin daughters developed vomiting and diarrhea late at night, with their fever rising to 40°C. She said they have been hospitalized for three days and required antibiotic treatment.

“We want food to be prepared at the kindergarten itself, as it was before. Catering is not necessary for us,” she said.

A mother with two children at Kindergarten No. 61 reported that both were hospitalized with similar symptoms after eating cabbage soup at the facility. She said more than 20 children from that kindergarten alone are undergoing treatment.

Officials confirm multiple cases

Shahnoza Azimova, director of Kindergarten No. 61, said 16 children from the facility are currently receiving treatment. The kindergarten has a capacity of 180 children, with around 120 attending at present.

She said breakfast on February 20 consisted of buckwheat porridge with milk, while lunch included borscht, meatballs and homemade potatoes. Meals have been supplied by Garden Catering Trade since August 2025.

Nodira Ortikova, director of Kindergarten No. 58, confirmed that 26 children fell ill. Mukhtasar Umrzokova, director of Kindergarten No. 2, said eight children from her institution were hospitalized.

According to Umarali Sulaymonov, head of the epidemiology department of the Fergana city sanitary and epidemiological service, reports of illness were received at around 7:00 a.m. on February 21 from Kindergartens No. 2, 58 and 61.

Samples have been taken and submitted to the laboratory. Test results are expected within 10 days. As the catering company is located in Kuvasoy, inspections are being conducted by the regional sanitary authorities there.

Hospital: 52 children under treatment

Sultonali Boyigitov, chief physician of the Fergana regional infectious diseases hospital, said the overall condition of the hospitalized children is of moderate severity.

“On the first day, we admitted 28 patients. Currently, 52 children are being treated with a diagnosis of acute diarrhea. There are no life threatening conditions. Three patients are in the intensive care unit, but their condition is stable,” he said.

Kun.uz has also obtained information that children from Kindergartens No. 2, 58, 61, 35, 22, 59 and 37 were hospitalized with suspected food poisoning.

Background and previous concerns

According to the daily meal plan of Garden Catering Trade for February 20, breakfast included buckwheat, milk tea, butter and bread. Lunch consisted of borscht, meatballs, homemade potatoes, carrot and apple salad, bread and dried fruit compote. An afternoon snack included raisin cake and tea, while dinner was planned as mashed potatoes, tea and bread.

The company is fully owned by Iqboljon Bozorov.

Under a decision by the Fergana regional governor dated July 25, 2024, a five month pilot catering system was introduced in state kindergartens in Kuvasoy. The decision provided that if the pilot yielded positive results, the system would be extended to kindergartens in Fergana city by the end of the year. Regional authorities previously described the project as the first such trial in Uzbekistan.

Earlier, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education identified a number of violations in the company’s operations, including failure to comply with sanitary standards related to menu composition, nutritional value and hygiene requirements.

The Competition Committee had also demanded that the Fergana regional governor annulled the decision concerning the Kuvasoy based catering company.

In September 2025, nearly 2,000 children in several districts of Tashkent region, including Buka, Piskent, Oqqorgon, Quyi Chirchiq and Bekobod, as well as the cities of Nurafshon and Olmalyk, were poisoned after consuming food supplied under an outsourcing system. A criminal case was opened, and 10 individuals were detained. Court proceedings in that case are currently ongoing.