Kazakhstan reports fourfold drop in school food poisoning cases
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Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health reports registered food poisoning cases in educational facilities fell fourfold in January-July 2026 compared with the same period of 2025. Two cases affected 13 children, down from eight cases and 118 children a year earlier.
Case Numbers
Kazakhstan's Ministry of Health registered two food poisoning cases in educational facilities in January-July 2026, down from eight cases in the same period of 2025. The number of affected children fell from 118 to 13. The ministry's figures were reported by Elorda Info and Kursiv.kz.
New Control Regime
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a law on December 4, 2025 that introduced a special state control procedure for state-funded child facilities. The mechanism took effect on February 1, 2026. The Ministry of Health said the change tightened sanitary oversight and enabled earlier detection of potential risks in schools. The law followed group food poisoning cases in educational facilities in Mangystau region.
School Nutrition Standards
From September 1, 2025, education organizations have applied a Nutrition Standard and a multi-option model perspective menu. The documents were developed to reflect modern principles of balanced child nutrition, with special attention to product safety, storage and preparation. The ministry called child safety an absolute priority and said it is raising requirements for school catering while working with regions to prevent violations.
What's Next
Sanitary-epidemiological services and regional education bodies are continuing joint monitoring of school food safety, the ministry said. It remains unclear whether the lower case count will be sustained when schools resume full operations in September.
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Kazakhstan reports fourfold drop in school food poisoning cases
