Contracting diseases: UoP students complain of falling sick after eating canteen food

PESHAWAR: Students of the University of Peshawar have contracted food poisoning after eating substandard food at the varsity’s canteen. However, the university administration has denied their ailments are caused by unhygienic food served at the cafeteria.

While talking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, Khyber Teaching Hospital Casualty Registrar Dr Syed Assad Maroof said they receive 15 to 20 students from UoP every day who have contracted food poisoning.

To the doctor

According to Maroof, the number of patients is increasing by the day. He attributed these problems to unhygienic food and contaminated water served at varsity’s canteen.

“The canteen owners use low-quality oil, meat and vegetables that cause students to contract diarrhoea and food poisoning.”

He said the university administration should take notice of this issue and they should keep a check on their canteens.

“It would be better if the administration directed the canteen owners to not sell stale food and cook fresh meals,” Maroof added.

Sick leave

Ilyas Bashir, a student of political science, told The Express Tribune the university’s canteen does not serve hygienic food. He added food is often stored at the cafeteria without being covered with a lid.

“The kitchen where the snacks are fried and cooked is dirty,” he said. “Stale vegetables and low-quality meat cause food poisoning.”

Another student, who requested anonymity, echoed Bashir’s concerns, saying the hostel canteen has substandard food. She added they do not have any other choice but to eat what is available at the canteen as most girls cannot go out at night to buy food due to security reasons.

“The university charges high fees for hostel accommodation, but then provides us low-quality food,” she said.

True or false?

When contacted, UoP Spokesperson Akhtar Amin denied substandard food is sold at the canteen.

He said the university has a food and market management committee to check the prices and quality of food being sold at the canteen. Amin added the committee regularly checked the standard of food and cancelled the contract of those who are involved in selling substandard food.

According to Amin, the canteen’s tender is announced every year and the committee gives the contract to those who meet the fixed criteria of the committee. About the high number of students visiting the hospital after contracting food poisoning, Amin said the university campus has four varsities and students from there visit KTH because it is close to the university.

He added this was why the number of students from UoP is high there. “It is not necessary they go after consuming canteen food.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2016.