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The raid revealed expired meals that were set to be served on trains, raising serious concerns about food safety for passengers across India.
A major food safety crisis unfolded in Kochi, Kerala, as municipal authorities raided a private railway base kitchen in Kadavanthra. (Photo: Wikipedia)
A major health scare has come to light in Kochi, Kerala. Health inspectors at Kochi’s municipal corporation on Wednesday raided a private railway base kitchen in Kadavanthra and seized days-old, expired meals bound for trains as per The Economic Times.
The unit, operated by Brindavan Food Products (also reported as “Brandavan”) – had no valid municipal licence and was dumping food waste into a nearby canal.
As per The New Indian Express, Officials found large quantities of stale ingredients – meat, chicken, eggs, spices and grains – stored on the premises.
Boxes bearing the Vande Bharat Express logo were also discovered at the site, suggesting some of the meals were intended for premium trains.
Rail and catering authorities acted quickly once the reports surfaced. The Southern Railway fined the contractor Rs 1 lakh for cleanliness violations and asked IRCTC to impose further penalties.
A high-level Railway/IRCTC inquiry committee has been formed to investigate the case. The Kadavanthra base kitchen – which held only an FSSAI food licence but no commercial licence or sewage treatment plant – has been ordered shut down and sealed.
IRCTC officials say alternate arrangements are in place to keep trains fed without interruption, and that stricter hygiene checks and corrective measures have been mandated.
Past Incidents Show Pattern of Negligence
Having said that, the Kerala raid highlights broader problems in Indian train catering. As per English Mathrubhumi.com, complaints about onboard meals have surged sharply – RTI figures show food-quality grievances rose over 500 percent between 2022 and 2024.
Many incidents involve premium trains: Vande Bharat, Rajdhani and other Express routes account for a disproportionate share. To date, errant contractors often get off with fines, while IRCTC and Railway officials publicly shift blame, as reported by Onmanorama.
Indeed, sources say a fear of disrupting service appears to have made authorities hesitant to take harsher action against problematic caterers.
This is not an isolated case. In 2019, IRCTC penalized a food vendor Rs 25,000 after a passenger found maggots in an omelette aboard the Deccan Queen Express, as per TOI. More recently (June 2024), a couple on a Vande Bharat train discovered a cockroach in their dal; IRCTC apologized and fined the vendor, as reported by The Economic Times.
Reports of spoiled food, vermin, expired provisions and other hygiene lapses have triggered public outrage and calls for tighter oversight.
The Bigger Question: Are Train Meals Still Safe?
As the probe in Kochi continues, railway sources say inspections and surveillance will be stepped up. For now, however, passengers are asking whether existing safeguards truly guarantee that the meals they pay for and consume, are safe.
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