BAKU - Azerbaijan’s food safety regulator has temporarily suspended operations at the Gunesh wedding venue in Kurdamir while it investigates suspected food poisoning involving 92 people.
The Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency, known as AQTA, said inspectors examined the restaurant after guests fell ill following a wedding celebration. The restriction will remain in place until the investigation is completed, according to Vesti Baku and an AQTA statement reported by Report.az.
Officials said the food served at the event had been supplied by the wedding host. Inspectors collected samples from the dishes, swabs from the hands of employees who handled food, and samples from kitchen surfaces, utensils and equipment. The materials were sent to a laboratory for analysis.
The number of people seeking medical care after the Sept. 30 event reached 92, up from earlier reports of 50. The Kurdamir District Prosecutor’s Office also opened an inquiry and ordered examinations of food taken from the venue.
Authorities have not yet announced what caused the illnesses or assigned responsibility to any individual. The closure is a temporary measure pending the laboratory findings and the completion of the official investigation.