Mom and 2 Kids Die of Suspected Food Poisoning After Allegedly Eating Street Food at Popular Tourist Site

Authorities in Turkey say two children and their mother have died after being hospitalized with suspected food poisoning in Istanbul.

Dr. Abdullah Emre Guner, Istanbul’s Regional Health Chief, shared in a post on X on Thursday, Nov. 13, that the Böcek family — staying at a hotel in the Fatih District — were admitted to the hospital with symptoms believed to be related to food poisoning.

Guner said the couple’s children, ages 6 and 3, died despite medical efforts, while both parents were initially placed under intensive care.

In a follow-up post on X on Friday, Nov. 14, Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc confirmed that the children’s mother had also died. The father remains hospitalized and is still receiving treatment.

Istanbul’s Provincial Health Directorate and the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office have opened a formal investigation into the incident. Tunc stated that samples were collected from several food establishments where the family ate, and four individuals responsible for those locations have been taken into custody. Findings have been forwarded to the Council of Forensic Medicine to determine the official cause of death.

Tunc expressed his condolences, sharing prayers for the family affected by what he described as a tragic loss.

According to media reports cited by CBS News, the family had consumed popular street foods such as mussels with rice and “Kumpir,” a baked potato dish with assorted toppings. Other accounts claimed they may have eaten “kokorec,” a dish made with grilled lamb intestines, and Turkish delight. Reports vary on the exact foods consumed, with CNN Türk noting the family had mussels, soup and kokorec but no potatoes.

CBS News also reported that the family was Turkish and had been living in Hamburg, Germany, prior to their vacation to Istanbul, which began on Sunday, Nov. 9.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in March 2025 that foodborne illnesses lead to more than 53,000 hospitalizations and over 900 deaths in the United States each year. According to the CDC, Norovirus is the leading cause of foodborne infections and hospitalizations, while Salmonella accounts for the most deaths linked to foodborne illness.

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