Gujarat Intensifies Food Safety Campaign Following Hostel Food Poisoning Incident

Gandhinagar, September 16 (Daily Kiran) : The Gujarat government has launched a statewide food safety inspection campaign in response to a recent food poisoning incident at a hostel in Surat. As part of this initiative, inspections have been conducted at 386 hostels and canteens across the state. A total of 194 food samples have been sent for testing, and the licenses of two institutions have been suspended.

Of the 386 inspected facilities, 100 were government-run, 71 were semi-government, and 213 were private hostels and canteens. During the inspections, authorities issued 102 improvement notices. Additionally, 18 hostels and canteens voluntarily shut down operations temporarily to address cleanliness and corrective measures.

Gujarat’s Health Minister, Prabhul Panseriya, reported that many hostel kitchens were found to be dirty and in unsanitary conditions. He warned that if negligence leads to student illnesses, those responsible will be held accountable. “When food poisoning incidents occur in hostels, the management bears full responsibility. Such events stem from serious negligence. Parents pay fees for their children to stay in private hostels, while the government incurs costs for public facilities. It is the hostel management’s duty to ensure food quality and hygiene, preventing the serving of stale or contaminated food,” he stated.

This extensive inspection campaign was initiated following the incident on September 13 at the PP Savani International School hostel in Surat, where approximately 85 students reported stomach pain and vomiting after dinner. The hostel houses around 2,200 students and staff. Reports indicate that symptoms appeared in several students a few hours after their meal, prompting their hospitalization.

In the wake of the incident, the Surat Municipal Corporation collected food samples from the hostel’s kitchen for analysis. Officials have noted that the exact cause of the illness has not yet been confirmed as food poisoning, and the investigation is ongoing. The dinner served that night included paneer-mutter, roti, fried rice, and buttermilk.

The health minister revealed that about 200 hostels cleaned their kitchens during the inspections due to identified deficiencies. Notices were issued to those with unsanitary conditions, and further inspections are planned for the coming days.