IRCTC staff caught washing utensils in Duronto Express toilet, FSSAI steps in
A viral video allegedly showed IRCTC catering staff washing utensils inside a toilet on the Mumbai-Ernakulam Duronto Express. The footage prompted FSSAI to seek an explanation from IRCTC over hygiene violations.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) after a viral video allegedly showed catering staff washing utensils inside a train toilet on board the Mumbai–Ernakulam Duronto Express.
The video, shared on X by the account Truth On Track, shows an IRCTC staff member inside the train toilet, with utensils placed in a basket on top of a closed seat. The post alleged that food plates and cutlery used for onboard catering services were being handled in unhygienic conditions.
The account also claimed that the incident occurred in the train's First AC coach, where passengers generally expect higher standards of service and cleanliness. It also questioned how such hygiene concerns could arise in a premium class and sought an update from railway authorities and IRCTC regarding action taken on the complaint.
In the video, a passenger recording the incident was heard confronting the IRCTC staff member, asking, “What are you doing? Is this an appropriate place for this?”
The employee remained silent in the clip. The passenger then turned to an attendant standing outside the toilet and asked whether he was aware of what was happening.
“No, I have just seen this now,” the attendant replied.
The passenger further said, “You are an attendant of the Duronto Express and you do not know that utensils are being washed inside the toilet. Are you serving food using these utensils?”
“I did not see it. The people who wash them usually do it there,” the attendant responded, gesturing somewhere outside the toilet.
Taking note of the viral video, FSSAI served a notice to IRCTC seeking a factual explanation regarding the alleged incident.
In its notice, the food safety regulator said the alleged practice was contrary to the hygiene and sanitary requirements laid down under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
According to FSSAI, the regulations require food business operators to maintain hygienic processing, handling, washing and cleaning practices to prevent contamination of food and food-contact surfaces.
"It has come to FSSAI's notice through a video circulating on social media that utensils used for catering services in Train No 12223 – LTT-ERS Duronto are allegedly being washed inside the toilet of the train by catering staff or contractual personnel engaged for onboard catering services," the regulator said.
FSSAI has asked IRCTC to provide factual comments and an explanation regarding the incident shown in the video.
The railway catering agency is yet to publicly respond to the notice.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a notice to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) after a viral video allegedly showed catering staff washing utensils inside a train toilet on board the Mumbai–Ernakulam Duronto Express.
The video, shared on X by the account Truth On Track, shows an IRCTC staff member inside the train toilet, with utensils placed in a basket on top of a closed seat. The post alleged that food plates and cutlery used for onboard catering services were being handled in unhygienic conditions.
The account also claimed that the incident occurred in the train's First AC coach, where passengers generally expect higher standards of service and cleanliness. It also questioned how such hygiene concerns could arise in a premium class and sought an update from railway authorities and IRCTC regarding action taken on the complaint.
In the video, a passenger recording the incident was heard confronting the IRCTC staff member, asking, “What are you doing? Is this an appropriate place for this?”
The employee remained silent in the clip. The passenger then turned to an attendant standing outside the toilet and asked whether he was aware of what was happening.
“No, I have just seen this now,” the attendant replied.
The passenger further said, “You are an attendant of the Duronto Express and you do not know that utensils are being washed inside the toilet. Are you serving food using these utensils?”
“I did not see it. The people who wash them usually do it there,” the attendant responded, gesturing somewhere outside the toilet.
Taking note of the viral video, FSSAI served a notice to IRCTC seeking a factual explanation regarding the alleged incident.
In its notice, the food safety regulator said the alleged practice was contrary to the hygiene and sanitary requirements laid down under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
According to FSSAI, the regulations require food business operators to maintain hygienic processing, handling, washing and cleaning practices to prevent contamination of food and food-contact surfaces.
"It has come to FSSAI's notice through a video circulating on social media that utensils used for catering services in Train No 12223 – LTT-ERS Duronto are allegedly being washed inside the toilet of the train by catering staff or contractual personnel engaged for onboard catering services," the regulator said.
FSSAI has asked IRCTC to provide factual comments and an explanation regarding the incident shown in the video.
The railway catering agency is yet to publicly respond to the notice.
