Tbilisi mayor vows strict action if investigation finds wrongdoing in suspected kindergarten poisoning cases

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has pledged strict action if an investigation into suspected poisoning cases among children attending public kindergartens in the Georgian capital identifies negligence or wrongdoing by municipal authorities.

Speaking about the incident, Kaladze said the health and safety of every child was a fundamental priority and urged the public to await the findings of the relevant authorities before drawing conclusions about the cause.

“First and foremost, I wish the children a speedy recovery. I fully understand the concerns of their parents. As parents ourselves, we know how precious every child is. Caring for children is an enormous responsibility for me personally and for my team,” Kaladze said.

The mayor stressed that it would be premature either to attribute the suspected poisoning to food or to rule out food as a possible cause.

“We must wait for the relevant authorities to complete their investigation, which will, of course, be followed by an appropriate response,” he said.

Kaladze noted that more than 60,000 children currently attend public kindergartens in Tbilisi, adding that the number of children affected would not change the municipality’s approach to their health and safety.

“It makes no difference how many children are involved. Their health and safety are of fundamental importance to us. We would take exactly the same approach even if only one child were affected,” he said.

The mayor also outlined reforms introduced in recent years to strengthen safety standards in the capital’s public kindergartens.

According to Kaladze, the municipality introduced the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) food safety management system in 2023, enabling comprehensive monitoring of food products throughout the supply chain, from producers and suppliers to the children receiving meals.

“I can state with full responsibility that no food product is accepted without the relevant inspection reports from an accredited laboratory. We do not accept any product unless the required laboratory test results have been provided,” he said.

Kaladze added that Georgia’s National Food Agency conducts regular inspections of food products supplied to kindergartens.

He said the municipality had also invested in upgrading kindergarten infrastructure, with particular attention to food safety, environmentally safe toys, bedding and compliance with international standards.

“We are completely open and transparent, and we will provide parents and the public with information on every aspect of this matter,” the mayor said.

Addressing questions about food procurement, Kaladze explained that tenders for kindergarten food supplies are conducted by Georgia’s State Procurement Agency, while the municipality signs contracts with the companies selected through the tender process.

He said suppliers are required to submit laboratory inspection reports for each product they deliver.

“We must first establish what caused the problem. I assure you that every detail will be made public,” Kaladze said.

“We are not avoiding either the problems or our responsibilities. If the investigation establishes that anything was done improperly on our part or that mistakes were made, there will be a very strict response. The public will be fully informed of the findings,” he added.