Mangaluru: The district health department is set to convene fresh awareness meetings with stakeholders managing hostel facilities across the district, following recent reports of food poisoning at NITK Surathkal.Sources from educational institutions said incidents of suspected food poisoning continue to be reported in hostels, with small groups of students occasionally falling ill. While most cases are said to be mild, the recurring nature of such incidents has raised concerns over food safety standards and enforcement mechanisms.Officials noted that awareness drives were conducted in the past whenever cases were reported. However, despite repeated advisories, instances have continued to surface.The head of an allied health sciences college that experienced a food poisoning episode a few years ago said the institution had since replaced its mess contractor and implemented stricter monitoring measures to prevent a recurrence. “We have observed that in several cases, students who complained of food poisoning had eaten outside the campus during weekends or holidays,” the official said.District health officer Dr HR Thimmaiah pointed out that food poisoning cases typically rise during the summer months due to higher temperatures and improper food handling. He said the department will soon hold a meeting to reiterate responsibilities and compliance requirements. “During an earlier phase of back-to-back incidents, affidavits were obtained from hostel managements to ensure adherence to safety norms,” he added.In 2024, the district administration directed hostel managements and college heads to constitute committees comprising hostel inmates. These committees are required to meet every month and submit proceedings to the district health and family welfare department. Hostels were also instructed to strictly follow health department guidelines, communicate them to committee members, and submit affidavits of compliance within three days.
