MSU blacklists caterer after mass food poisoning incident at girls’ hostel

Vadodara: The Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU) has blacklisted Shilpa Caterers after over 130 female students were hospitalized at SSG Hospital between Tuesday night and Wednesday due to food poisoning. The students, all residents of the Sarojini Devi Hall girls’ hostel, began experiencing symptoms such as severe stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhoea shortly after midnight, just hours after consuming dinner at the hostel mess.

In response to the incident, the university has ended its contract with the catering agency, citing serious negligence. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Professor Hitesh Raviya, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) for Public Relations and Communication at MSU, confirmed that Shilpa Caterers has been permanently blacklisted due to their role in the incident, which compromised students’ health on campus.

Hospital authorities stated that an in-depth investigation is underway to identify the precise cause of the food poisoning. They are working closely with university officials and public health teams to implement necessary safety and containment measures.

Preliminary findings suggest that milk-based dishes served during dinner may have triggered the outbreak. As of now, no official complaint has been filed. DeshGujarat