
A task force from the Telangana Commissioner of Food Safety uncovered severe hygiene violations during an inspection of the NALSAR University canteen in Shamirpet. The inspection at NALSAR, a premier law university of India revealed rat feces, cockroach infestations, and several other food safety lapses, sparking concerns among students and parents.
According to the Commissioner of Food Safety, who updated the findings on his social media account X, the team found insect-infested muskmelon seeds, raw food materials without proper labeling, and an absence of pest control measures.

Additionally, the canteen’s Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) license was obtained for a different address rather than the food preparation premises. There was no Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) trained supervisor, and critical documents, including pest control records and water analysis reports, were missing.
Further violations included slippery kitchen floors, windows and doors without insect-proof screens, and raw food items being stored directly on the floor without pallets. The team also found 30 kg of whole green gram and 90 kg of raw rajma without packing dates, expiry dates, or batch numbers.
The findings, shared on the official social media handle of the Commissioner of Food Safety, triggered outrage among parents, many of whom reported that their children frequently suffered from food poisoning and unexplained weight loss. Complaints about cockroaches in food were said to be common.
Parents took to social media platform ‘X’ to voice their concerns. Parents revealed that many children have resorted to online classes due to continuous health issues due to unhygienic food. “My daughter repeatedly falls sick on campus and lost a tremendous amount of weight due to health issues and poor quality of food and compromised nutrition”, maintained one parent.
Students also shared their frustrations. “This is just the beginning of the food safety woes we face daily. Rats, roaches, and insects in the food are a common sight, and even rotten milk/spoiled eggs are being served,” posed a NALSAR student on X.
The student body has repeatedly urged authorities to implement regular inspections and enforce strict food safety measures, but their concerns have largely been ignored. With mounting pressure from students and parents, authorities may now be forced to take immediate corrective action.
Parents say they have regularly communicated the issue with the administration through email in past years but hardly any action is taken to enhance the food quality at the university mess.
The university has meanwhile converted the classes to online mode till February 13th.