Algeria : Chicken Served to Students Sparks Outrage, Three Senior Officials Dismissed

A radical and highly deterrent decision for anyone tempted to take liberties with student meals. The Directorate of University Services of the wilaya of Bordj Bou Arreridj showed no leniency, imposing the ultimate administrative sanction: the director of the Nasri Fatoum university residence, the head of the catering service, and the team leader of the cooks were all dismissed from their posts.

The decision followed the serving of a meal that violated food safety and quality standards intended for students. In a statement released on the evening of 13 December 2025, the Directorate of University Services said the measures were taken in strict application of the instructions issued by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

From now on, no breach of hygiene and quality regulations will be tolerated, particularly in catering services, whether in terms of quality or quantity.

Through its information and communication unit, the body explained that the incident stemmed from the depletion of chicken cutlets—one of the dinner’s components—just minutes before the restaurant’s closing time.

Faced with demand, restaurant managers made a poor decision by immediately removing two chickens from cold storage, cutting them up and cooking them hastily. In the urgency of the situation, according to the same source, the chicken was undercooked on the inside, even though it appeared properly cooked on the outside.

This constituted a clear breach of food safety and quality standards. As soon as it became aware of the incident, the Directorate of University Services acted swiftly, immediately dismissing those directly responsible for the failure. It also ordered a thorough administrative investigation to fully clarify the circumstances and determine accountability.

The Directorate stressed that it will tolerate no misconduct and will take all necessary measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future. The objective is clearly set: to provide students with the best possible living and accommodation conditions.