IRCTC gets notice over unhygienic food on Duronto

The action follows the circulation of a video on social media allegedly showing catering staff and contractual workers washing food utensils inside a train toilet, raising concerns over passenger safety and hygiene standards.

Taking serious note of the incident, FSSAI described the act as a “flagrant violation” of the mandatory hygiene and sanitary requirements prescribed under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.

"The said act, if found true, reflects extremely unhygienic food handling practices and is in contravention of the hygiene and sanitary requirements prescribed under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, which mandate food business operators to maintain hygienic processing, handling, washing and cleaning practices so as to prevent contamination of food and food contact surfaces," the notice said.

FSSAI has directed IRCTC to immediately submit factual comments and a comprehensive Action Taken Report (ATR) on the matter.

“The matter is being treated with the utmost urgency,” the food regulator said, emphasizing that "washing utensils in toilet areas poses serious risks of contamination and is highly objectionable from the food safety perspective. Such incidents adversely affect public health and consumer confidence in railway catering services".

FSSAI has also instructed IRCTC to ensure strict compliance with Schedule 4 regulations across all railway catering operations and to take necessary corrective measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The regulator said it is closely monitoring developments and warned that any failure to comply with its statutory directives could invite stringent regulatory and legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

In March, IRCTC was fined Rs 10 lakh by the Indian Railways for service deficiencies following a complaint by a passenger traveling on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express over food quality.