Food Safety Checks Detect Rotten Vegetables, Expired Products At Karnataka Railway Stations
Fungus and expired food found statewide.
A special food safety inspection at 36 railway stations across Karnataka on Thursday found suspected use of non-permitted colours in sweets, expired dairy products and food items, and fungal growth on vegetables, according to the state Food Safety and Drug Administration department. The inspection covered food establishments operating at railway stations as well as railway pantries and food supplied on trains. Officials said the exercise was aimed at checking compliance with food safety standards and identifying potential risks to passengers.
The department’s teams inspected 112 food establishments at major railway locations across the state. These included Bengaluru City Railway station, also known as KSR, Yeshwanthpura, Krishnaraja Puram, Yelahanka, Kolar, Mysuru, Haveri, Udupi, Koppal, Gadag, Davanagere, Bagalkote, Karwar, Yadgiri, Birur and Kadur junctions, Ballari, Hosapete, Hubballi and Mangaluru. Officials examined food preparation areas, storage facilities and products being sold to passengers as part of the inspection.
The inspection teams also checked railway pantries, railway hotels and food served aboard trains. According to the department, Vande Bharat trains operating between Mangaluru and Kerala and between Hubballi and Bengaluru were found to be maintained in clean condition. However, officials reported the suspected use of colours that are not permitted in certain food products. The findings indicate that cleanliness at some inspected facilities did not necessarily rule out other food safety concerns involving ingredients, storage or preparation.
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Among the products examined, officials found suspected use of yellow colouring in jalebi and pink colouring in khova peda. The department said the colours were suspected to be non-permitted, raising concerns over compliance with regulations governing food additives and colouring agents. Such inspections are intended to identify products that may not meet prescribed food safety requirements and enable authorities to take appropriate action based on further examination or testing.
The teams also found expired curd and standardised milk packets at a railway station in Haveri district. Expired dairy products can pose food safety risks, particularly if they have been stored or handled improperly. Officials also observed fungal growth on onions and other vegetables during the inspection. The condition of the produce raised concerns about storage and hygiene practices at food establishments supplying or preparing food for railway passengers.
In another observation, the inspection team found chutney being stored in plastic buckets that were reportedly not suitable for food storage. The finding highlighted concerns beyond the quality of individual food products, including the materials and containers used for storing prepared foods. Proper food-grade storage is important for preventing contamination and maintaining food safety, particularly in high-volume food service environments such as railway stations and train pantries.
The inspection covered food establishments serving a large number of passengers across different parts of Karnataka, including major urban centres and railway junctions. The department’s findings are expected to help authorities identify establishments requiring corrective measures or further scrutiny. The discovery of suspected non-permitted colours, expired dairy products, fungal vegetables and unsuitable storage containers underscores the need for regular inspections and strict adherence to food safety standards at railway food outlets.
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration department has continued inspections of food establishments to monitor hygiene and compliance with food regulations. The latest exercise covered multiple railway stations and train-related food services, providing authorities with a broad assessment of food safety practices across the railway network in the state. Further action against establishments found violating applicable rules would depend on the department’s assessment and any subsequent procedures based on the inspection findings.
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