Turkey: Colonel removed from office over food poisoning

By Sarp Ozer and Duygu Yener

ANKARA (AA) – A colonel was removed from office from Turkey’s western Manisa province over a case of food poisoning which left more than a thousand soldiers ill, a source in the defense ministry said Friday.

Col. Sefik Guvenc was the commander of the brigade where more than 1,000 soldiers fell ill and nearly 200 were hospitalized after a dinner this May.

He was transferred to Ankara on the orders of Defense Minister Fikri Isik, said the source from the Ministry of National Defense on condition of anonymity.

In another incident on June 17 in the same base, more than 730 military personnel were hospitalized after eating dinner.

The food incident that took place on May has been confirmed to be caused by Salmonella bacteria. However, investigation of the June incident by laboratory experts is underway.

Dozens of suspects, including soldiers, were arrested following the incidents.