CUJ hostel mess infested with roaches: Dist food safety officer

Ranchi: An inspection of the Central University of Jharkhand (CUJ) hostel mess by the district food safety officials exposed shocking levels of unhygienic conditions.
The inspection, conducted on Tuesday evening, led to the collection of a dinner food sample, which has been sent to the state food testing laboratory for analysis. The kitchen was found infested with cockroaches.An expired packet of amchur was also found and discarded.
Subir Ranjan, food safety officer (FSO) of Ranchi, said he was made to wait for three hours before being allowed to enter the mess.
"When I finally inspected the kitchen, I found baby cockroaches crawling inside. The hygiene standards were completely unacceptable. I have recommended imposing a penalty on the outsourced catering company, M/S Jain Caterers from Madhya Pradesh," he stated.
Anurag Linda, dean of students' welfare at CUJ, said, "In 2024, when the outsourced company was awarded the tender, an inspection was carried out. However, given the current concerns, we will now form a six-member student committee to closely monitor food quality and hygiene in the mess."
Despite this assurance, students have voiced their frustrations over the deteriorating conditions of the mess. "I was horrified to see a boiled baby rat mixed with the meal. It was shocking and disgusting. Many students stopped eating in the mess after that incident. We deserve safe, clean food, but what we get instead is filth and negligence," said a second-year economics student.
A third-year student of geography criticised the absence of proper hostel management at night. "There is no residential warden after dark. There is no one to take immediate action if any issue arises. The drains around the hostel premises are completely clogged, making the area even more unhygienic."
Complaints about poor cleanliness in the kitchen were echoed by multiple students. A third-year engineering student said, "The kitchen is covered in dirt and grime. Plates are never washed properly. Sometimes, stains and leftover food particles are still stuck on the plates."
Another student added, "Large spider webs hangs around the mess. Pre-cooked food is always left uncovered. Cockroaches crawling in and around the food area have become a common sight."
Linda assured that immediate action would be taken against the firm. "We will impose a penalty on the outsourced company for their failure to maintain hygiene standards. Student safety is our priority, and we will ensure corrective steps are taken."