NEW DELHI: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued a statutory notice to IRCTC over alleged food safety and hygiene violations on board Train No. 12223, the Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Ernakulam Duronto Express after a video circulating on social media showed catering staff washing utensils inside a train toilet.In the notice, FSSAI said the incident came to its attention through a viral social media video which allegedly showed utensils used for onboard catering services being cleaned inside toilet premises by catering staff or contractual personnel engaged on the train.Calling the allegations ‘extremely unhygienic’ and a serious food safety concern, the food regulator directed IRCTC to immediately submit a comprehensive Action Taken Report (ATR) and provide a detailed explanation regarding the incident.“The said act, if found true, reflects extremely unhygienic food handling practices and is in contravention of the hygiene and sanitary requirements prescribed under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011,” the notice stated.FSSAI observed that the regulations require food business operators to maintain hygienic processing, handling, washing and cleaning practices to prevent contamination of food and food-contact surfaces.The regulator further said that washing utensils in toilet areas poses serious contamination risks and is highly objectionable from a food safety perspective. Such practices, it added, can adversely impact public health and undermine consumer confidence in railway catering services.Seeking accountability, FSSAI has asked IRCTC to furnish factual comments on the incident and clarify whether catering operations on the train were being run through a contractor or licensee. The regulator has also sought details of the contractor, including its valid FSSAI licence number, if applicable.Additionally, IRCTC has been directed to provide information on the immediate corrective measures taken following the incident and the action initiated against the contractor or staff found responsible for the alleged violation.The food safety authority has also sought details of Food Safety Training and Certification (FoSTaC) programmes undertaken by food handlers and catering personnel deployed on the train, including the category and validity of their training.FSSAI instructed IRCTC to ensure strict compliance with Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Regulations to prevent any recurrence of such incidents in the future.The regulator asked IRCTC to treat the matter as urgent and submit its response along with the action taken report by today.
