In a major crackdown on food safety violations, the health wing of the Kochi Corporation sealed a catering unit in Kadavanthra, allegedly supplying food to Indian Railways. Including the prestigious Vande Bharat Express, after discovering large quantities of stale food and unhygienic kitchen conditions.
The firm, Brindavan Food Products, was found operating without a Corporation licence, and had received multiple prior warnings. During the raid, officials seized over 50 kg of expired chicken and noted foul smells reported by nearby residents. The premises also lacked a sewage treatment plant (STP) and was allegedly dumping waste into the Punchathodu canal.
🛑 Repeat Offender
Local municipal councilor Antony Painuthara revealed that the firm had been under watch for months.
“We had issued several notices, and it was even fined ₹10,000 earlier for illegal dumping. But the violations continued,” he said.
Food containers printed with railway branding and Vande Bharat logos were also found, further confirming the unit’s supply chain role.
Railway Action: ₹1 Lakh Fine & High-Level Inquiry
Following media reports and the health department’s raid, the Southern Railway imposed a ₹1 lakh fine on the firm. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has been directed to initiate strict action.
A high-level inquiry committee has been formed, comprising officials from Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division and IRCTC. Though the firm possessed an FSSAI licence, it lacked valid commercial approval from the Kochi Corporation.
IRCTC, in a statement, assured that corrective steps were being taken and alternative hygienic food arrangements had been made to ensure no disruption in train catering services.
Food Lab Lies Idle
The incident sparked political criticism, with UDF leader M.G. Aristotle blaming the Corporation for negligence. He pointed out that a CSR-funded mobile food testing lab, procured over a year ago, remains non-operational.
A protest was staged by the UDF outside the lab demanding its immediate activation to prevent future food safety breaches.
📍 The case raises serious concerns about passenger food safety on Indian trains and underscores the need for stricter monitoring of railway catering vendors.
