Vande Bharat Food Scandal: Vendor Hit With Rs 10 Lakh Fine after Insect Found in Meal

A passenger travelling on a Vande Bharat Express train raised serious concerns over food safety after allegedly discovering a dead insect in a meal served onboard, prompting swift action from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC). The incident, which surfaced on social media, has triggered debate over hygiene standards in premium train services.

According to the complaint shared on platform X, the passenger found the insect in a rice and dal dish served during a journey from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. The user also claimed that at least two such instances were observed in the same coach. Accompanying photographs of the contaminated food were posted online, drawing widespread attention and criticism from other users.

The passenger identified the catering vendor as M/S Brandavan Food Products, part of the RK Group, and urged authorities to take strict action. Tagging multiple officials and agencies, including the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the user demanded a thorough investigation and called for the vendor’s licence to be cancelled if found guilty. The complaint also raised concerns about potential violations of food safety norms and alleged lapses in quality control.

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Responding to the issue, IRCTC acknowledged the complaint and apologised for the poor quality of food served. The organisation stated that it had cancelled its contract with the vendor and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh. Officials indicated that such lapses are taken seriously and assured passengers that corrective measures are being implemented to maintain hygiene and service standards across railway catering operations.

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