Copyright thehindu
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has found various faults with the functioning of a mess attached to the boys hostel of a private college near Coimbatore, after several students fell ill following dinner. FSSAI officials said that 16 inmates of the boys hostel of Nehru Institute of Engineering and Technology at Thirumalayampalayam suffered from vomiting, stomach ache and diarrhoea, after they had dinner from the hostel mess. Four of them were hospitalised and were given IV fluids and others were given medicines, the officials said. A Food Safety Officer of FSSAI inspected the mess, kitchen and storeroom on Sunday morning and found that the facility was being run in unhygienic conditions. A notice was served on the caterer, namely Delite Catering Service, which has been running the mess. “A penalty of ₹5,000 was imposed on the caterer after the inspection. The mess was closed temporarily and it will be allowed to resume operations, only if the shortcomings are found rectified during the inspection on Monday,” said T. Anuradha, Designated Officer of FSSAI, Coimbatore. During the inspection, it was found that persons working at the mess did not have medical certificates. Food handlers were not using protective gears. The kitchen did not have adequate lighting or ventilation and paint of the ceiling was peeling off. According to the FSSAI, raw materials in the storeroom were not stored properly. Pest control was not done and houseflies were found in abundance in the kitchen, storeroom and other areas. The sewage from the mess was not being treated properly and there were no records on regular cleaning of the facility. The police said that students complained that insects were found in the tea served at the hostel a few days ago and informed the college administration. After Saturday’s food poisoning, a few students staged a sit-in in front of the hostel. They dispersed after college authorities held talks with them.
