India’s food safety regulator, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), has sent a statutory notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) regarding unsanitary utensil handling on Train No. 12223 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT)-Ernakulam (ERS) Duronto Express. The notice was prompted by a video circulating on social media showing catering staff washing utensils in train toilet premises.
FSSAI emphasized that if proven true, this act would violate hygiene and sanitary standards outlined in the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. The regulator expressed serious concerns about the risk of contamination associated with washing utensils in toilet areas, labeling it as highly objectionable from a food safety standpoint.
The regulator highlighted that such incidents not only jeopardize public health but also erode consumer trust in railway catering services. IRCTC has been instructed to provide a detailed explanation and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) in response to the allegations. FSSAI also requested clarification on whether catering services were outsourced to a contractor or licensee, along with details such as the contractor’s valid FSSAI license number, if applicable.
In addition, FSSAI mandated IRCTC to disclose the corrective actions taken, any disciplinary measures initiated against the responsible contractor or staff, and information on Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) undergone by catering personnel. The notice underscored the importance of adhering strictly to Schedule 4 requirements under food safety regulations to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
Urgency was stressed by FSSAI, directing IRCTC to promptly furnish a response and an action taken report.
