What caused the tragic death of a mother in Hyderabad after she ate momos? — Find out the shocking details

The incident took place on Friday when Reshma and her daughters, aged 12 and 14, bought the popular street food from a vendor in Khairatabad.

A 33-year-old woman died and 20 others got food poisoning after consuming momos from a street vendor in Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad. Reshma Begum and her daughters, aged 12 and 14, bought momos in Khairatabad on Friday. Shortly after eating, they experienced symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. Reshma died on Sunday morning, leaving her daughters under the care of doctors.

According to Ram Babu, deputy inspector of Banjara Hills police station, a complaint was lodged after the incident. “We received reports that Reshma Begum died and 15 other people got food poisoning after consuming momos from the same vendor at different places. We have registered a case and are investigating the matter.”

The investigation revealed that the vendor was operating without a food safety license and that the food was prepared in unsanitary conditions. The dough used for momos was stored unprotected in a refrigerator with a broken door. Food samples from the seller have been sent for laboratory testing.

In light of this tragic incident, J. Kamal Vardhana Rao, Executive Director of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), said that unsafe food is responsible for a staggering 600 million infections and 420,000 deaths annually. These alarming statistics were released during the first Global Summit of Food Regulators in 2023, which aims to create a global platform for food regulators to strengthen food safety systems throughout the food value chain.

This is not an isolated case. Earlier in May 2024, two roadside vendors in Mumbai were arrested after 19-year-old Prathamesh Bhokse died after consuming chicken shawarma from their stall. Police reports stated that both Prathamesh and his uncle suffered severe food poisoning after eating there.

Food safety issues have been highlighted in several previous cases, including shawarma, a popular street food. In October 2023, a young man from Kochi died of suspected food poisoning after eating shawarma from a restaurant in Kerala. Other cases include the death of a 22-year-old man due to septicemia, and several people being hospitalized after eating shawarma in different states.

To prevent food poisoning, people are advised to follow the rules of hygiene and food safety:

Wash your hands: Always wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially raw meat, seafood or eggs.
Prepare food carefully: Make sure all meat, poultry, seafood and eggs are cooked to the correct internal temperature. You can check readiness with a food thermometer.
Avoid cross-contamination: Store raw meat and seafood separately from ready-to-eat foods. Different cutting boards should be used for meat and vegetables, and dishes should be washed before reuse.
Be careful with leftovers: Store leftovers in airtight containers and consume within three to four days. Reheat to at least 165°F (74°C) to kill harmful bacteria.

Following a police complaint filed by Reshma Begum’s family, the food safety department of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with the police, arrested two street stall owners and registered a case of willful murder, which is not murder.

This incident is a critical reminder of the importance of food safety and hygiene, particularly with regard to street food, which continues to pose a public health risk.