Four Yemenis die of ‘food poisoning’ in south Amman

AMMAN – Four people of Yemeni nationality died on Saturday due to apparent food poisoning after eating meals from a restaurant in south Amman, a police officer told The Jordan Times. 

The officer, from the media office of the Public Security Department, said the victims were from the same family, adding that four others fell ill after consuming food and were taken to a hospital in south Amman. 

The hospitalised patients are two Yemenis from the same family and two domestic helpers working for the family, said the source, indicating that the domestic helpers are of Asian nationality. 

The officer, who preferred to remain unnamed, said initial investigations indicate that food poisoning was behind the incident, adding that the concerned authorities and forensics are still investigating the case. 

Some media reports carried by local websites said the family and the domestic helpers were poisoned after consuming food from a famous restaurant in Amman, but the PSD officer said the source of the food is still unknown. 

Further details will be available in the coming few days as the media office will release a statement on the incident, the officer said. 

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Al Hayat Hospital Director Kayed Halaiqa as saying that the deceased were two children, three and five years old, the mother and the grandfather.

Those injured from the family are eight and 13 years old, said the director of the hospital where they are receiving treatment, noting that their condition is critical, while the two others are in fair condition.

Jordan Food and Drug Administration Director Hayel Obeidat told Petra that teams from the administration and security agencies were sent to the family’s home to collect samples for lab analysis.