FSSAI Serves Notice to IRCTC After Video Shows Utensils Washed Inside Train Toilet
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By AMIT KUMAR
The food regulator has sought an Action Taken Report from IRCTC and warned of strict regulatory action over alleged violations of hygiene and sanitation norms aboard the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Ernakulam Duronto Express.
New Delhi, May 30, 2026 — The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a statutory notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) over alleged food safety and hygiene violations on board the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT)-Ernakulam Duronto Express, following the circulation of a viral video on social media.
According to an official statement issued by FSSAI, the regulator took serious cognisance of a video purportedly showing catering staff and contractual personnel engaged in onboard catering services washing food utensils inside a train toilet. The incident allegedly occurred on Train No. 12223, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Ernakulam Duronto Express.
The regulator described the act as a “flagrant violation” of mandatory hygiene and sanitary requirements prescribed under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
In response, FSSAI issued a statutory notice dated May 28, 2026, to IRCTC and sought immediate factual comments along with a comprehensive Action Taken Report (ATR) on the matter.
“The matter is being treated with utmost urgency,” the regulator said, emphasizing that passenger safety and food hygiene standards cannot be compromised under any circumstances.
The controversy has once again brought the spotlight on food quality and hygiene practices in India’s railway catering ecosystem, which serves millions of passengers every day. While IRCTC has invested significantly in modernising catering services over the years, sporadic complaints relating to food quality, cleanliness and handling practices continue to emerge.
The latest incident is particularly sensitive because it concerns allegations of food utensils being washed in an area considered one of the most unsanitary spaces on a train. Public health experts note that such practices, if established, can create significant risks of contamination and food-borne illnesses.
FSSAI has directed IRCTC to ensure strict compliance with food safety regulations across all railway catering operations. The regulator also warned that any failure to comply with statutory directions could invite legal and regulatory action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Beyond the immediate controversy, the episode highlights a larger challenge confronting India’s railway network. As passenger expectations rise and railways position themselves as a modern transport service, maintaining consistent food safety standards across thousands of daily train journeys remains a complex operational task.
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