The Food Safety Department in Noida has taken strict action against the hostel mess of a private educational institute after students raised serious allegations of finding worms in their meals. The incident, which unfolded at the Mangalmay Group of Institutions in Knowledge Park 2, led to significant student unrest and an official inspection that confirmed major hygiene lapses.
Student Outrage and Viral Videos Trigger Action
The controversy erupted on Monday when students residing at the institute's hostel began sharing disturbing videos on social media. The clips purportedly showed worms in the food served at the mess. This visual evidence quickly fueled anger among the student community.
Following the online outrage, students staged protests. Videos from Tuesday evening captured students creating a ruckus inside the hostel mess, throwing plates, and later clashing with security guards at the main gate of the institute. The protest at the gate highlighted the depth of their frustration.
Although no formal written complaint was initially filed, the food safety officials took immediate cognizance of the issue based on the viral social media posts. This demonstrates the increasing role of digital platforms in prompting regulatory action.
Official Inspection Uncovers Shocking Conditions
Responding swiftly, officials from the Food Safety Department conducted a detailed inspection of the mess kitchen around 8 pm on Tuesday. What they found was deeply concerning and validated the students' complaints.
The inspection report pointed to two critical failures. Firstly, the maintenance of the storeroom, where food items were kept, was found to be highly unhygienic. Secondly, the overall cleanliness of the kitchen did not meet the prescribed hygiene standards mandated by law.
Assistant Commissioner (Food) II, Sarvesh Mishra, stated that a show-cause notice was issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The notice was served specifically due to the unhygienic conditions in the kitchen and the improper maintenance of the storeroom.
"Further legal action will be initiated if the deficiencies are not rectified within the stipulated time mentioned in the notice," Mishra warned. To gather concrete evidence, officials also collected food samples for laboratory analysis.
"One sample each of prepared vegetables, chickpeas, and split chickpeas (chana dal) has been collected on suspicion of being substandard and sent for laboratory testing," Mishra added. The future course of action will heavily depend on these test results.
Resolution and Potential Consequences
The immediate protest situation was eventually defused through dialogue. Police officials confirmed that the matter was resolved after discussions between the agitating students and the institute authorities.
A senior police official noted, "No written complaint has been received from either side. The matter was resolved through mutual understanding, and alternative food arrangements were made for the students."
However, the administrative and legal process is far from over. The institute's management must now comply with the food safety notice and rectify all highlighted hygiene issues within the given timeframe. Officials have made it clear that strict action will follow if food safety norms are found to have been violated, especially once the laboratory reports are received.
This incident serves as a stark reminder to all educational institutions and food service providers about the non-negotiable importance of maintaining impeccable hygiene standards in their kitchens and storage facilities to ensure student health and safety.
