'Food heated with plastic still on': Passenger flags food safety concerns on Vande Bharat Train

A passenger traveling on Vande Bharat has raised questions about heating food along with plastic-sealed package.

A passenger travelling from Allahabad to Delhi has raised food safety concerns after claiming she was served hot kachoris and rotis that had been heated along with their plastic-sealed packaging on a Vande Bharat train. The incident has once again put the Indian Railways under scrutiny.

In a video shared on X, Avani Bansal is seen confronting railway staff over the packaging. According to her post, a staff member admitted that the food had been heated with the plastic still on, even though the packet did not specify that it was microwave-safe.

The video shows a “Halka Phulka” roti packet bearing the IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) logo. Bansal pointed out that the packet mentioned only storage instructions, “Store in a cool & dry place”, and did not state whether it was safe for microwave heating. In her post, she wrote: “The ‘Halka Phulka’ roti packet clearly states: ‘Store in a cool & dry place’. No mention of microwave/heating in-pack. No ‘microwave safe’ indication.”

Bansal said she had first noticed the issue a day earlier while travelling from Delhi to Allahabad on Rajdhani Express but did not question it at the time and consumed the “hot kachori almost instantly.” When the same was repeated on her return journey on Vande Bharat, she decided to raise the issue.

Calling it a “public health issue alert,” she tagged official Indian Railways accounts and sought immediate clarification and corrective measures.

Responding to the viral post, IRCTC stated that the packaging used for serving food is safe. “The packaging is suitable for service as per prevalent temperature standards in train. The packaging is unharmful from a health point of view and food is safe for consumption,” the reply read.

Following IRCTC’s response, Bansal shared additional images of the roti packets and again questioned whether they were safe for microwave heating and how long such food had been served on trains. In response, IRCTC asked her to share her journey details to address the complaint. However, she maintained that the issue affected lakhs of passengers and sought a broader public clarification.

Several other users joined the discussion, backing her concerns and sharing similar experiences, while urging IRCTC to issue a clear public statement on the matter.