Tojikstandart (the Agency for Standardization, Metrology, Certification and Trade Inspection under the Government of Tajikistan) has urged citizens to exercise caution when purchasing and consuming canned foods, warning of the risk of food poisoning if products are improperly prepared or stored.
The agency says that every year dozens of families are hospitalized after consuming canned vegetables, particularly eggplants, cucumbers, and mushrooms.
Tojikstandart noted that the main cause of such incidents is the failure to comply with sanitary requirements and technical regulations during food preparation. “To prevent poisoning, it is essential to strictly follow home canning rules, including proper heat treatment and storage conditions. Canned products with swollen or rusted lids must not be consumed,” the agency emphasized.
The agency also recommends purchasing canned products only with clear labeling and a stated production date, storing them in a cool and dry place, and carefully inspecting containers before use. If a jar foams, makes a sound when opened, or has an unpleasant odor, the product should not be consumed.
The warning follows a recent incident in Sughd province. On January 14, five members of one family in the Spitamen district were hospitalized after consuming homemade canned food. Nine other relatives underwent medical examinations and remain under doctors’ supervision.
The victims were taken to the central district hospital, where they were diagnosed with moderate food poisoning. Their condition is reported as stable, and they are expected to be discharged in the coming days.
An official source within the Sughd Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Center told Asia-Plus that the poisoning was caused by homemade canned products. A total of 30 jars of home-preserved food were seized for laboratory testing.
According to the authorities, four cases of mass food poisoning were recorded in Sughd province in 2025, affecting 14 people. This incident is the first such case reported in the area in 2026.
