Pune: SPPU Students To Launch ‘500 Emails to FDA’ Campaign Over Food Quality, Safety Concerns in Campus Messes
Pune, 16th June 2026: Student groups at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) have announced a “500 Emails to FDA” campaign to press for action against alleged irregularities in campus messes and canteens, citing repeated complaints about food quality, unhygienic conditions and misconduct by staff.
The campaign, scheduled to be launched in the coming days, will involve students collectively sending complaints to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), seeking an independent inquiry into the functioning of university messes and canteens.
The move comes amid growing dissatisfaction among students over a series of incidents reported on campus over the past two months. According to the University Vidyarthi Sangharsh Kruti Samiti, a disturbance broke out at the G-8 mess on April 15 after some employees were allegedly found in an intoxicated state, leading to an altercation among staff members. Student representatives reportedly contacted the university’s security department, which intervened to bring the situation under control.
More recently, on June 14, students claimed to have witnessed a violent clash between employees at the Refectory Mess around 9 pm. The incident has renewed concerns over discipline and management practices within campus dining facilities.
Food quality has emerged as another major issue. Students alleged that an insect was found in a vegetable dish served during dinner on June 10. They further claimed that over the last 20 to 25 days, multiple complaints have been raised regarding insects, larvae, mosquitoes and other contaminants being found in food served at university messes.
Student representatives alleged that despite repeated complaints, the Dining Hall and Vigilance Control Committee has failed to convene effective review meetings and that no significant punitive action or notices have been issued against the contractors concerned.
Against this backdrop, students plan to submit a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor on June 17, demanding the dissolution of the Dining Hall and Vigilance Control Committee. They will also seek details of the action taken by the university against irregularities reported in messes and canteens over the past month.
In addition, student organisations said they are compiling records of alleged violations and complaints from the past year, which will be submitted to the FDA as part of the “500 Emails to FDA” campaign.
Among the key demands raised by students are an independent inquiry into irregularities in messes and canteens, strict action against those found responsible, dissolution of the existing monitoring committee, and a guarantee of safe and quality food for students residing on campus.
