Pune: FDA Conducts Inspection After Repeated Contamination Complaints at SPPU Messes

Pune, 17th June 2026: The officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday inspected the central refectory at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) following repeated complaints from students about worms, insects and other contaminants being found in food served on the campus.

The inspection comes amid growing unrest among students, who have accused the university administration of failing to act despite multiple complaints over food quality in recent weeks. Student groups had threatened to launch a mass email campaign to the FDA if action was not initiated.

Food safety officer Ajinkya Umap conducted the inspection and said a report would be submitted to the FDA’s assistant commissioner. The contractor operating the facility has been summoned for a hearing on Wednesday, after which authorities will decide on further action.

Officials said the possible action could range from issuing an improvement notice and imposing penalties to suspension of the licence, depending on the findings of the inspection.

Pending a decision by the FDA, food services at the university’s messes and refectory have been temporarily halted. The SPPU campus has eight mess facilities and one central refectory catering to students.

Student representatives alleged that incidents involving contaminated food had been reported multiple times over the past month and reiterated their demand for stricter monitoring of food quality on the campus.