India Investigates Snake Contamination in School Lunch Sickening 100 Children

 Indian authorities launched an urgent investigation in Maharashtra on April 30, 2025, after 100 children fell ill from suspected snake contamination in a school lunch program at a government primary school in Nashik. 

The students, aged 6 to 14, suffered vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain after consuming khichdi, a rice-lentil dish, with 20 hospitalized in critical condition. Initial tests confirmed a dead snake in the meal, likely mixed with lentils during storage, prompting the Food Safety and Standards Authority to suspend the school’s supplier, which serves 5,000 students daily.

The incident, the worst in Maharashtra’s midday meal program since 2013, exposed gaps in India’s food safety protocols, affecting 120 million children nationwide. Inspectors found the supplier’s warehouse infested with rodents, with 30% of stored grains contaminated, violating 2024 storage guidelines. The state government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, allocated $500,000 for victim treatment and ordered a statewide audit of 10,000 suppliers. Police arrested the supplier’s manager on charges of criminal negligence, facing up to seven years if convicted.

India’s midday meal scheme, costing $2 billion annually, aims to boost school attendance, but 15% of facilities lack proper kitchens, per 2024 education ministry data. The scandal has fueled parental outrage, with 70% of Nashik families demanding private suppliers’ ouster. Health officials vaccinated 1,000 students against foodborne diseases, and classes were suspended for a week. The probe, led by a retired high court judge, must report by June 30, with findings expected to spur reforms in a program critical to India’s 40% child malnutrition rate. The incident underscores systemic challenges, risking trust in a scheme serving 25% of India’s schoolchildren.