Pune: Despite FDA Action, Food Quality Issues Persist at SPPU Messes, Students Claim Insect Found Again on June 19 and 23
Pune, 23rd June 2026: Student organisations at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have demanded the dissolution of the university’s mess and canteen vigilance committee, alleging that food safety violations continue unabated despite recent action by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against a campus mess contractor.
The demand comes after fresh complaints of insects being found in food served at university mess facilities days after the FDA conducted inspections and cancelled the licence of a mess operator on June 16 following reports of unhygienic food being served to students.
According to the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee, students have repeatedly raised concerns over the quality of food served in university hostels and canteens, with several incidents involving worms, insects and mosquitoes allegedly being found in meals.
The university has constituted a “Mess and Canteen Vigilance and Monitoring Committee” with powers to inspect facilities, issue notices, recommend cancellation of tenders and initiate action against erring contractors. However, student groups have questioned the committee’s effectiveness, claiming that complaints continue to surface despite its existence.
On June 17, student representatives submitted a memorandum to the committee’s chairperson seeking details of action taken against food quality violations. They allege that no official response has been received so far.
The latest complaints include an incident on June 19 when a female hostel resident allegedly found an insect in pav bhaji served during dinner at the girls’ hostel mess. Students claimed the food item was not replaced immediately despite objections being raised. Another complaint surfaced on Tuesday, June 23, when students reported finding an insect in a vegetable dish served during breakfast at the G-9 mess.
Student groups also pointed out that the girls’ hostel mess had previously failed to comply with prescribed meal norms by serving only one vegetable dish instead of the mandated two, a practice that was corrected only after repeated objections.
Citing recurring complaints, students have questioned whether regular inspections, surprise visits and food quality monitoring are being carried out effectively. They have demanded accountability from those responsible for overseeing food services on campus.
The Students’ Struggle Action Committee said it will submit a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor on June 24 seeking the dissolution of the vigilance committee. The organisation has warned that if corrective measures are not taken, it will launch democratic protests to safeguard students’ health and welfare.
“Students expected food-related irregularities to stop after the FDA’s action on June 16. However, incidents reported on June 19 and June 23 suggest that the monitoring mechanism is not functioning effectively. Accountability must be fixed where student health is being compromised,” said Abhishek Shelkar, president of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee’s SPPU unit.
