The Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licence of a canteen at the girls’ hostel of Savitribai Phule Pune University after an inspection reportedly found severe hygiene violations, including cockroaches in the kitchen, uncovered food and alleged insects and larvae in meals. The action followed complaints from students about the quality and safety of food served at the hostel.
According to the report by Lokmat – Pune, students had complained for several days that meals contained insects, larvae and pieces of plastic. They also reported unsanitary conditions in the canteen kitchen. After repeated representations and protests allegedly failed to result in action, the students approached the FDA directly.
An inspection team led by Food Safety Officer Ajinkya Umap visited the canteen and found serious deficiencies, the report said. The kitchen was described as highly unhygienic, with cockroaches present. Food was reportedly stored in open vessels, while workers allegedly did not have the required medical certificates or safety kits.
The FDA has suspended the canteen’s licence until further orders. Food samples were seized during the inspection and sent for laboratory testing, according to the report. The test results will determine whether the samples contained contaminants or otherwise failed to meet food-safety standards.
The action comes days after university Vice-Chancellor Dr Suresh Gosavi, Registrar Dr Prafulla Pawar, Senate member Prasenjit Fadnavis and Dean Professor Prabhakar Desai conducted a surprise inspection of the university’s refectory on September 30. The inspection had focused on food quality and cleanliness and was welcomed by students, who sought more frequent checks.
The latest incident has renewed questions about how food services in student hostels are monitored and how complaints are escalated within large educational institutions. For residential students, hostel canteens are not optional commercial outlets but an essential daily service linked directly to health, affordability and the ability to continue education away from home.
Abhishek Shelke, president of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee and a member of the Food Hall Quality Control Committee, welcomed the FDA’s intervention. He called for permanent measures to ensure safe and nutritious food and urged the university to take an early decision on starting a central mess under its direct control.
The FDA’s laboratory examination of the seized samples and the university’s next steps on the canteen’s operations remain the immediate milestones. The suspended licence will remain in effect until further orders, according to the report.
