A DELICIOUS SUMMER

Summer in Azerbaijan is not just about the scorching sun, the Caspian Sea, and the vibrant colours of the markets. It is also a season when an insidious enemy lurks behind the apparent abundance—food poisoning. Every year, with the arrival of hot weather, medical professionals raise alarms, and statistics clearly show that careless attitudes towards hygiene and food quality can come at the highest cost. The recent tragedy that claimed a young life sadly confirms this.

Pessimistic statistical data

Doctors at the Republican Clinical Hospital and the Republican Centre for Hygiene and Epidemiology consistently report a surge in poisoning cases during summer. According to the Ministry of Health of Azerbaijan, in 2023, food poisoning cases increased by 20-25% in summer compared to spring. A significant number of these cases are linked to fruit, vegetables, and dairy products bought from unregulated sources or stored improperly. The Azerbaijan Food Safety Institute and other experts warned in 2024 of a continued rise in food poisoning during spring and summer due to warm weather and poor hygiene, noting that about 75% of these incidents occur at home. This confirms that the problem persisted through 2024 and into 2025.

Although comprehensive data comparable to 2023 for all of 2024 and half of 2025 are not yet publicly available, the overall trend of increased summer food poisoning continues, supported by numerous anecdotal reports.

It is especially alarming that a considerable proportion of victims are children. Their bodies are more vulnerable to toxins, and what might be a mild poisoning for adults can cause serious complications for them. These are not just statistics; they represent lives—lives cut short or permanently damaged by negligence and disregard for basic safety rules.

Lesson to be learned: watermelon deaths

Recently, Azerbaijan was shaken by news about a young girl named Derya, full of life and dreams, who died after eating watermelon. Her brother recounted her final hours: “After eating some watermelon, she went to bed. Four or five hours later, my mother woke me up and told me my sister was unwell and we needed to take her to hospital immediately. In the ambulance, she fell into a coma. My sister had epilepsy and began having seizures.”

This is not fiction or sensational journalism—it is reality forcing us to confront the truth. A simple watermelon—a symbol of summer and freshness—became the cause of an irreparable loss, with an existing illness only worsening the outcome. Regardless of specifics, this tragedy highlights underlying issues: insufficient product quality control in unregulated markets, low hygiene standards among some citizens, and most importantly, a failure to understand that death can occur unexpectedly—even at the dinner table.

Seasonal traps

In summer, markets become a colourful display of fresh fruit, berries, and dairy products. However, this abundance carries dangers—high temperatures create perfect conditions for harmful microorganisms to multiply rapidly.

Watermelons are a prime example. Their sweet flavour can quickly turn bitter with poisoning. Early watermelons, often treated with nitrates to accelerate growth, or those cut and left in heat, can become deadly as microbes multiply rapidly. That is why watermelons with cracks or cuts should never be bought. It’s also wise to follow traditional advice: eat fruits and berries only in their natural season of ripening.

Berries such as strawberries, raspberries, and cherries require particular caution. These delicate gifts from nature absorb dirt and germs easily. Their porous surfaces do not wash clean easily; even minor damage can allow bacteria entry. Therefore, berries should be washed thoroughly—preferably multiple times—and it is even better to scald them before eating.

Dairy products are especially risky in summer. Expired ayran, katyk, cottage cheese, and sour cream can become ticking time bombs if left out in the sun. Heat can turn them into bacterial breeding grounds within hours.

Finally, ready meals purchased from questionable cafes or street vendors lacking sanitary conditions—whether salads, pilaf, or kebabs—are often direct paths to hospitalisation.

Rules of survival

How can we avoid becoming part of these grim statistics? The answer is simple yet complex—it rests on three pillars: hygiene, vigilance, and responsibility.

First and foremost, washing hands thoroughly is essential. This basic act is foundational for safety. Hands should be washed with soap and water before every meal and after using the toilet; where water is unavailable, antiseptic should be used.

Food must also be washed thoroughly. All fruits, vegetables, and berries—even those that appear clean—should be rinsed under running water. For berries and greens, soaking in salted or acidified water followed by repeated rinsing is helpful. Cold storage is our friend as well.

What happens to cooked food, dairy products or perishable fruit left out for more than two hours? They become unsafe. The refrigerator is the safest place to store such items.

It is always wise to buy food from trusted shops, supermarkets or official markets where sanitary standards are enforced. Buying from spontaneous street vendors should be avoided as much as possible.

During summer, boiling water or drinking bottled water can reduce risk since contamination of tap water may increase.

Finally, heat treatment is crucial: meat, poultry and fish must be thoroughly fried or boiled before consumption.

A message to everyone

The tragedy of Derya is more than just news; it is a wake-up call for society as a whole. We must realise that health and life are priceless.

State authorities are working to strengthen control over product quality and sanitary compliance. However, each individual also bears personal responsibility.

Every unwashed fruit or product carelessly left in heat carries risk—risk that can cost lives.

Let the bitter experiences of others serve as lessons for us all. Let this summer bring joy rather than hospital stays and sorrowful news.

Take care of yourselves and your loved ones!