Strict action should be taken against those who serve contaminated food

There are hardly any train passengers who haven't complained about the food served on trains. This is because the quality of food provided is often extremely poor. It's a fact that, more often than not, the Railways take no action to address these complaints. When the Rajdhani Express from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was first introduced, high-quality meals were served. However, over time, that standard has deteriorated—even as ticket fares have significantly increased. The food served on the Vande Bharat trains has also faced widespread criticism.

The public only began to understand the reason behind the poor quality of food in Vande Bharat trains when details of a raid conducted by the Kochi Corporation’s health department came to light. The raid took place at an unlicensed catering unit operating in Fatima Lane, Kadavanthra, which was part of the Delhi-based Brandavan Food Products' cluster kitchen network. This unit was supplying food not only to the Vande Bharat trains but also to five other long-distance trains.

The raid revealed that food was being prepared in a shockingly unhygienic and negligent manner. Over 50 kilograms of chicken that was five days old, along with boiled eggs, chapatis, and other food items, were seized. Contaminated water was being discharged into a canal, for which the establishment was fined Rs 10,000. The contractor is likely to face a heavier penalty.

The workers at the unit were migrant labourers, and their living conditions were found to be extremely unsanitary. The raid was conducted after locals complained to their councillor about the foul smell coming from the catering unit. Brandavan Cluster Kitchen has been supplying food to trains and other locations across the country for the past 60 years. Following the exposure of the raid, the Railway authorities were jolted into action and announced a fine of Rs 1 lakh for the contractor. Had railway officials regularly inspected catering units and taken appropriate action, the issue of substandard food being served on trains could have been addressed much earlier.

Flash inspections by the vigilance department had revealed that food safety officials themselves accept bribes, allowing low-quality food items into the market. There are even complaints that some food safety laboratories engage in fraudulent practices in exchange for bribes. Given the exponential rise in the number of people eating out compared to earlier times, the Food Safety Department must now operate with far greater efficiency. Food is a basic human right. Those who contaminate it should face strict punishment, and officials responsible for enforcement must not show any leniency in ensuring this.