Over 100 students at a private school in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, fell ill after consuming expired food items served in the school canteen, prompting health officials to seal the kitchen on June 23, 2026. The incident occurred at the Shri Ram School in the Vijay Nagar area, where students complained of vomiting, stomach pain, and diarrhea after eating lunch.
Health officials take swift action
Following the reports of illness, a team from the Indore Municipal Corporation’s health department inspected the school premises. They found several expired food items, including packaged snacks and dairy products, being stored and used for meal preparation. The kitchen was immediately sealed, and samples of the food were sent for laboratory analysis.
According to Dr. Ramesh Gupta, the chief medical officer of Indore, “The students exhibited symptoms of food poisoning. We have admitted over 50 students to nearby hospitals, and their condition is stable. The rest are being treated at the school’s first-aid room.”
School administration blamed
Parents of the affected students staged a protest outside the school, demanding strict action against the management. Many alleged that the school had been ignoring hygiene standards for months. “My child has been complaining about the food quality for weeks, but the school never listened,” said Sunita Sharma, a parent whose child was hospitalized.
The school principal, Rajesh Tiwari, claimed that the food was sourced from a reputed vendor and that the expiry dates were inadvertently overlooked. “We are cooperating with the authorities and have suspended the canteen staff pending an inquiry,” he said.
Investigation underway
The Indore police have registered a case under sections of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Indian Penal Code for negligence. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Anil Singh stated, “We are investigating if there was any criminal intent. The school management will be held accountable if found guilty.”
Health officials have also issued a notice to the school to submit a detailed report on its food procurement and storage practices within a week. The school has been temporarily closed for classes until further orders. The district administration has assured a thorough probe and promised strict action to prevent such incidents in the future.
