The Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licence of a canteen at Savitribai Phule Pune University’s girls’ hostel after an inspection reportedly found severe hygiene violations, including cockroaches in the kitchen, uncovered food and alleged insects, larvae and pieces of plastic in meals served to students.
The action followed complaints from students about poor food quality and unhygienic conditions at the hostel mess. According to the report, students had raised the issue for several days and approached the FDA after repeated representations and protests did not result in action. The inspection was conducted by a team led by food safety officer Ajinkya Umap.
The FDA team reportedly found extensive uncleanliness in the kitchen and cockroaches in the premises. Food was allegedly being stored in open vessels, while workers did not have the medical certificates or safety kits required for food-handling operations. The department seized food samples from the canteen for laboratory testing.
The canteen’s licence has been suspended until further orders. The action came days after university officials, including Vice-Chancellor Dr Suresh Gosavi, Registrar Dr Prafull Pawar, Senate member Prasenjit Phadnavis and Dean Prof Prabhakar Desai, made an unannounced visit to the university’s refectory on 30 September to inspect food quality and cleanliness.
The report said students had welcomed that inspection and sought regular visits by university officials. However, complaints about food served at the girls’ hostel mess surfaced again within days. Students reportedly said that insects, larvae, plastic pieces and cockroaches had been found in food and that their complaints had not received an adequate response from the university administration.
The incident places the responsibility for campus food safety across two levels. The FDA is responsible for enforcing food safety regulations and has initiated regulatory action following the inspection. The university, meanwhile, manages the hostel environment in which students depend on the canteen for regular meals. For students living away from home, the mess is not an optional commercial outlet but an essential campus service.
Abhishek Shelke, president of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee and a member of the Food Hall Quality Control Committee, welcomed the FDA action and called for permanent measures to ensure safe and nutritious food. He also urged the university to take an immediate decision on starting a centrally managed mess under its direct control.
The FDA’s laboratory examination of the seized food samples and the university’s next administrative steps will determine how the canteen matter proceeds. The licence suspension remains in force until further orders.
