mid-day Opinion: Every student deserves hygienically prepared food

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Students from a Panvel-based university escalated a burgeoning health crisis to the state government. Their complaint was sparked by a spike in illness that they have attributed to the food served at the university mess.

A student delegation, represented by the Students Federation of India (SFI), reached out to Mantralaya to submit a formal representation, claiming that due to food poisoning, they had witnessed an alarming escalation in the number of students contracting jaundice and Hepatitis A.

The university needs to act swiftly and immediately with a check on the mess - hygiene, cooking methods, and procurement of ingredients. The students affected or their families, can be spoken to, so that there is an understanding of whether they have consumed mess food or have been eating elsewhere regularly.

Every college/university campus must designate flying food squads. These must include a student representative. Surprise checks at kitchens are essential.

While inspections do happen, surprise checks keep staffers/cooks/contractors on their toes. A large number of students live on campus and eat there, so cleanliness is key. When we say food, we also include water, as water-borne disease also falls in this category. While food cleanliness is vital for all, not just students, take into account the high stress of living away from home, the prospect of missed examinations/attendance because of illness and worried parents back home.

If the mess contractor is found errant on the hygiene aspect, he needs to be replaced promptly. The staffers at every mess must be educated on food safety, and students and teachers, too.