What caused the tragic death of a mother in Hyderabad after eating 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 suffered food poisoning after consuming Momos from a street vendor in the Banjara Hills area of Hyderabad. Reshma Begum and her daughters, aged 12 and 14, bought Momos in Khairatabad on Friday. Shortly after the meal, symptoms including diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting occurred. Reshma died on Sunday morning, leaving her daughters under medical care.

According to Ram Babu, sub-inspector of Banjara Hills police station, a complaint was filed after the incident. “We received a report that Reshma Begum died and 15 others suffered food poisoning after consuming Momos from one vendor at different locations. We have registered a case and are investigating the matter.”

An investigation found the seller was operating without a food safety license and the food was prepared in unsanitary conditions. The dough used to make momos was stored unprotected in a refrigerator with a broken door. Food samples from the supplier were sent for laboratory analysis.

In light of this tragic incident, G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), noted that unsafe food is responsible for a staggering 600 million infections and 420,000 deaths annually. This alarming statistic was shared at the first Global Summit of Food Regulators in 2023, which aims to create a global platform for food regulators to strengthen food safety systems across 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 indicate that Prathamesh and his uncle suffered severe food poisoning after eating there.

Several previous cases have highlighted food safety issues, particularly those related to shawarma, a popular street food. In October 2023, a young man from Kochi died of suspected food poisoning after consuming shawarma from a restaurant in Kerala. Other cases include the death of a 22-year-old man from sepsis, as well as cases of multiple people being hospitalized after eating shawarma for various conditions.

To prevent food poisoning, it is recommended to follow hygiene and food safety rules:

Wash your hands: Always wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling food, especially raw meat, seafood or eggs.
Cook food thoroughly: Make sure all meats, poultry, seafood and eggs are cooked to the correct internal temperature. Using a food thermometer can help check doneness.
Avoid cross contamination: Keep raw meat and seafood separate from ready-to-eat foods. Different cutting boards should be used for meat and vegetables, and kitchen utensils 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 complaint lodged by Reshma Begum’s family with the police, the food safety department of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, in collaboration with the police, arrested two persons running a street vendor stall and filed a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

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