Food contamination in Indian trains is increasingly becoming a recurring concern. In yet another unfortunate incident aboard the Vande Bharat Express, a passenger discovered an insect in the meal. Following the complaint, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) took action and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh on the service provider. While such penalties surely signal accountability, the repeated hygiene lope holes have highlighted a deeper issue that calls for stricter oversight and consistent quality control.



The issue came to light after X user Aditya Didwania shared images from his journey on the Ahmedabad-Mumbai Vande Bharat train, claiming he had found an insect in the meal served onboard. He also alleged that at least two such instances were noticed in his coach, prompting passengers to stop eating altogether.



In the caption, he wrote, "“Found an insect in Vande Bharat train food (Ahmedabad - Mumbai). Atleast 2 such cases in my coach, everyone stopped eating after that.” He also named the vendor and tagged authorities, urging them to take action and ensure food safety standards are followed.






Responding to the incident, IRCTC issued a statement in the comments section, writing, “Inconvenience caused is deeply regretted. The matter has been viewed with the utmost seriousness and a hefty penalty of Rs 10 lakh along with termination notice of the contract is being issued to the Service Provider. The kitchen is sealed for deep cleaning and pest control. Hygiene and passenger safety remain our top-most priority.”



While the prompt action by IRCTC reflected the sincerity and concern ogf IRCTC, but the repeated incidents have also triggered a wider discussion among users about food quality and safety on trains.




3 key reasons for such contamination




Poor storage and temperature control: Most of the time food served in train is prepared at a central kitchen and travels long distances before reaching passengers, especially on routes serviced by systems like Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. According to experts, if these meals are not stored at the right temperature hey become a breeding ground for bacteria, larvae, and insects. And warm and humid weather conditions make the problem worse.




Lapses in hygiene during preparation: With such large-scale kitchen set-up and meal preparations for thousands, it is a struggle to maintain strict hygiene standards. Improper cleaning, open cooking areas, or exposure to flies are some of the key reasons for contamination. Even a minor laspe can lead to major issue, resulting in insects laying eggs, which later turn into worms.




Poor packaging and handling in transit: While kitchen hygiene can be taken care of with strict scrutiny, the packaging and transportation often leads to chaos. From kitchen staff to delivery personnel to onboard vendors, food travels various levels and even a small lope hole in the system can lead to contamination and cause health issue. Also, delayed delivery, overcrowding the vehicle and improper handling during loading/unloading further increase the risk of contamination.




Safety measure to follow




Always check packaging and seals: With train food, always ensure that the food you receive is properly sealed. IRCTC-authorized meals usually come with labeled packaging, make sure to check the date and time of packaging, vendor and all other details.




Eat fresh and hot food: If the food served by IRCTC or any other authorized vendor looks stale of cold, always ask for replacement and only eat fresh and hot food.




Carry your essential: While travelling in train, always carry a small kit of hand sanitizer, wet wipes, tissues, and even basic cutlery. Cleaning your hands before eating can significantly reduce the risk of infections.



Be careful with water: Never ever buy a bottle with broken seal and prefer not to drink tap water. Water is one of the most sensitive item that can cause major health issues.




Avoid greasy food: While travelling in train always look for healthy food choices like rice and dal, soup, sandwiches, and salads, and avoid deep-fried foods like pakoda and tikkas, as they can lead to gut health issues.



Report issues immediately: If you find any hygiene issues or contaminated food, immediately inform the railway staff or via official complaint channels.