Unhygienically packed Vande Bharat meal packets seized in Kochi raid

Kochi Corporation officials seized unhygienically cooked food prepared to be distributed on multiple trains, including the Vande Bharat Express, during a raid at a private railway catering facility in Kadavanthra on Wednesday. The food was found to be contaminated with flies and pests.

The corporation's health officials revealed that the seized food items, including boiled eggs, meat dishes, sambar, dosa, and chapati, were stored in an unhygienic cluster kitchen. They said the food items emanated a strong, unpleasant odour.

Grains and soybeans were kept exposed, surrounded by flies. Officials also seized food packets labelled for Vande Bharat.

According to officials, the inspection was prompted by a series of complaints from local residents. For several weeks, residents had raised concerns about unsanitary practices at the facility, including reports of food waste being dumped directly into a nearby canal.

Three months ago, the issue was formally taken up with the local councillor Antony Painuthara. On Tuesday evening, the situation escalated when local women approached the authorities complaining of a foul smell emanating from the building. Upon checking the godown, they discovered stale chicken stored inside, which prompted the councillor to call for immediate action.

The corporation’s health team found the kitchen had poor sanitary conditions. Locals alleged that it was functioning without a valid licence. Three months ago, the facility had been issued multiple warnings, notices, and fines for violations.

The raid revealed that migrant workers were employed to cook food at the catering centre. Locals had filed complaints with the health department about their unhygienic living conditions. Officials said they first inspected the workers’ living quarters before the area where they cooked food.

“The facility was being operated with Kochi Corporation's licence. The local body also fined the facility for discharging wastewater into a canal. They were also told to install a system to manage their wastewater," said Corporation Health Inspector VV Suresh. We inspected the facility after receiving fresh complaints from local residents yesterday. We found stale food and cooked food left out in the open,” he told Manorama News.

It's revealed that the food was being prepared under a private contract, which is common practice in Railway catering. While IRCTC oversees food service operations for trains like the Vande Bharat Express, much of the preparation is outsourced to third-party vendors. So far, IRCTC has not released an official statement regarding the seizure. Railway authorities told Manorama News that they would respond after studying the issue.

Food on Vande Bharat
The Vande Bharat Express, often described as the pride of Indian Railways, is designed to offer a fast, comfortable, and modern travel experience. These semi-high-speed trains promise plush seating, improved onboard facilities, and meals included as part of the fare—meals that are typically arranged by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and executed through a network of vendors. While the Vande Bharat brand is built on efficiency and premium service, food safety has become a repeated blind spot.

This is not the first time concerns have surfaced over the quality of meals served on Vande Bharat trains. In recent months, passengers have reported cockroaches in food, foul smells, stale portions, and even the shocking presence of worms. Several of these complaints, shared through social media, triggered the Railways' responses and IRCTC's apologies. Despite such incidents gaining national attention, lapses continue to occur on the ground.

How to spot and avoid bad food on trains

• Check smell and appearance: Spoiled food often has a sour or foul smell. Discoloration, excess oil, or sogginess may indicate poor storage.
• Inspect packaging: Avoid food with damaged or open packaging. Official IRCTC meals are usually sealed and labelled.
• Ask questions: Don’t hesitate to ask the staff where the food was sourced from if something seems off.
• Carry dry alternatives: Always keep some dry snacks or fruit as backup, especially on long journeys.

How to report bad food on trains

• Use the Rail Madad app (Android/iOS) to lodge a complaint directly.
• Tweet to @IRCTCofficial or @RailMinIndia with photos and PNR details.
• Call 139, the Indian Railways helpline, and choose the option for catering complaints.
• Register feedback on the IRCTC website under the “Feedback” section.