HYDERABAD – Students Sickened from School Lunch
A group of 15 students from a government high school in the city fell ill after consuming food provided at the school.
Following complaints of stomach discomfort and nausea from eating school-provided eggs, the affected students were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Two of the students were initially diagnosed in critical condition although their condition later stabilized.
Authorities have launched an investigation and food samples have been sent for testing. Parents and local residents are calling for stricter monitoring to ensure the safety of meals provided in schools.
MAGANUR – Food Poisoning Incident Strikes Government School
Students at a local government school in India’s Telangana state were hospitalized after consuming contaminated food during their midday meal, exacerbating ongoing concerns about food safety in the country’s school nutrition programs.
Multiple students fell ill after eating “Kurkure-brand” snacks that are typically included in the school lunch. Local officials confirmed that children developed food poisoning symptoms and required immediate medical treatment at a local hospital.
Local health and education authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Food safety teams have been deployed to examine the entire food supply chain and prevent future distribution of potentially harmful food items.
The midday meal, designed to provide nutritious food to government school students, has faced repeated challenges with food quality and safety. This latest incident adds to a growing list of similar food poisoning cases in the region.
In a statement, a government official acknowledged the critical nature of the situation, stating that the food served did not meet basic safety standards and has led to the ongoing risk to the children’s health. He promised more rigorous monitoring of meal preparation and distribution.
Local officials have committed to a full investigation, with preliminary steps including:
- Comprehensive examination of food supply sources
- Inspection of food preparation facilities
- Review of current safety protocols
- Potential disciplinary action against responsible personnel
Parents and local activists have called for more stringent oversight of school meal programs and have demanded increased accountability and more robust safety measures to protect students from potential health risks.
The incident has reignited discussions about the need for improved food safety standards in government-run school nutrition programs. Health and education departments are under pressure to implement more effective quality control mechanisms.
KOCHI – Government Shuts Down Catering Company After Students Fall Ill
The Kochi Municipal Corporation, which manages the Indian city, has taken action by shutting down a well-known caterer following a food poisoning incident involving special school students from Kozhikode, a coastal city in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The students were in Kochi as part of a school field trip when they experienced symptoms of food poisoning after dining at the establishment.
A total of 75 of the 104 visiting students reportedly fell ill and required medical attention.
Authorities have launched an investigation and food safety officials are conducting tests to determine the cause of contamination.
KOLHAPUR – Two Children Die of Suspected Food Poisoning
A seven-year-old girl and her four-year-old brother died of suspected food poisoning in Maharashtra’s Kolhapur district, local police reported on Wednesday.
The children reportedly consumed meat and cake on Sunday evening and their health began to deteriorate shortly after their meal.
According to police, the seven-year-old first complained of nausea and stomach pain on Sunday evening. Her parents took her to a doctor who prescribed medication and recommended home rest.
The following morning, her brother began experiencing similar symptoms and was also given medical treatment.
The girl’s condition worsened and she was taken to the hospital on Monday evening. The boy was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday morning, where he died during treatment. The seven-year-old passed away on Tuesday evening.
Authorities have preserved the children’s medical samples for further investigation. Preliminary findings suggest food poisoning as the probable cause of death.
Local law enforcement is investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
THRISSUR – Cook Arrested in Connection with Fatal Food Poisoning Incident
Authorities in Thrissur have arrested Majhar Alam, a 28-year-old cook from West Bengal, in relation to a fatal food poisoning case.
Alam was employed as a cook at Zain Hotel in Perinjanam at the time of the incident. Local law enforcement took him into custody following an investigation into the food poisoning death. Police had previously arrested two of the hotel’s operators.
The arrest follows the death of a 56-year-old woman who reportedly suffered from food poisoning after consuming food from the hotel last May. Another 250 people were also reportedly sickened after eating at the hotel the same day.
The hotel was shut down by police and local health officials following the incident.
HYDERABAD – High Court Orders Comprehensive Food Safety Investigation in School Meal Program
The High Court in India’s state of Telangana has directed immediate action following repeated food poisoning incidents in government-run schools, mandating laboratory testing of mid-day meal samples across all educational institutions.
The court’s orders came during a hearing regarding a food poisoning incident in Narayanpet district. Expressing strong concern, judges questioned local officials’ apparent negligence, asking if they would only respond after child fatalities.
Two judges highlighted the severity of multiple food poisoning cases at the same school within a single week. They directed government officials to take action against responsible personnel and submit a detailed report by the following Monday.
At Maganoor Zilla Parishad High School, 21 students were hospitalized after experiencing vomiting and diarrhoea following their midday meal. This incident marked the second such occurrence at the school in less than a week, with a previous episode on November 20 affecting approximately 50 students.
The region’s Chief Minister had previously responded to an earlier incident by:
- Suspending three officials
- Cancelling the meal supply contract
- Ordering a district-level investigation
Following the latest incident, local authorities also imposed restrictions around the school, anticipating potential protests.
The case coincides with a tragic food poisoning-related death of a 16-year-old student at a tribal welfare residential school. The female student passed away nearly a month after falling critically ill during an October 30 incident that affected 60 students.
Opposition parties have criticized the government’s handling of school meal safety, with one party demanding compensation and alleging systemic failures in food preparation and distribution.
Commenting on this article, one national food poisoning lawyer from the food safety law firm of Ron Simon & Associates, said, “Although the number of reports of food poisoning in India may seem high compared to other places around the globe, it is important to remember that the country has an extremely large population of 1.4 billion people. However, it is still the duty of all food service businesses to follow strict safety standards to ensure the health and well-being of their customers.”
