5 days ago
Mass food poisoning at MSU girls' hostel
Vadodara: A case of mass food poisoning at MS University's Halls of Residence (girls' hostel) revealed that the contractor hired for catering services in the hostel mess did not have a food licence.
Panic spread at the university's girls' hostel after scores of students complained of vomiting and diarrhoea after dinner at the SD Hall mess on Tuesday night. A stream of ambulances started taking students to SSG Hospital from about 1.30am on Wednesday morning, leading to chaos at the hostel and the hospital.
SSG Hospital authorities said 103 students were treated and many of them have been discharged. Hospital authorities said the condition of all students, including those who remained admitted, was stable.
"Samples from all students have been collected," said RMO Dr Hitendra Chavan.
Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi rushed to the hospital after the mass food poisoning was reported. Students had been served paneer sabji, kheer, rice and dal at the hostel mess.
On Wednesday, food safety officers of the Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) inspected the SD Hall mess, while a group of ABVP-linked student leaders gheraoed MSU's in-charge vice-chancellor Professor Dhanesh Patel, demanding action.
"Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, notice has been issued to the contractor as the agency was operating without a licence," a statement from the VMC said. It added that the university furnished two certificates revealing that the hostel mess water tank had last been cleaned on March 28, and pest control actions were last carried out on April 6, 2023.
The VMC team sent 26 samples of raw materials, two of cooked food and six water samples for testing.
"When MSU canteens and mess halls were checked earlier, we found that the operators did not have food licences. We issued notices to such operators and wrote to the university. When university officials give out contracts, they must check that the operators/agencies have the necessary food licences," said a VMC spokesperson.
On Wednesday evening, MSU officials announced that the university had ended the contract for catering services with Shilpa Caterers, due to negligence on the part of the agency which led to severe health issues.
"The agency shall not be considered eligible by the university in the future as well," a statement from the university said.
The question of allowing any contractor to operate without the necessary food license does not arise as it is a pre-requisite," said MSU vice-chancellor professor Dhanesh Patel. "However, the contractor's services have been terminated for negligence that led to such serious health problems to our students and we have also blacklisted the agency."
