IRCTC to introduce independent digital food hygiene audits on trains and at stations

The new audit arrangement covers catering operations, food handling and sanitation checks.

World News View Editorial Desk · Published 16 October 2026

Published 16 October 2026 (IST); sources checked 15–16 October 2026.

New digital food-hygiene audit plan

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has reached an agreement with the Quality Council of India to conduct third-party digital audits of railway catering units. The arrangement is designed to review food safety, hygiene and operational practices on trains as well as at stations.

Why independent inspection is important

The audits will consider food preparation, storage, staff hygiene, medical fitness, protective equipment and pest control. Publishing reports from an independent inspection process can help passengers understand whether a catering supplier has corrected a problem instead of relying only on one-off complaints.

What travellers should check

This is an announced monitoring mechanism, not proof that every meal is now safe or that every caterer will immediately be inspected. A passenger concerned about food quality should still use the railway’s complaint channels and retain the booking and purchase information relevant to the issue.

Sources and verification

Read the report and check for later revisions: Primary reporting source

Photo is an archival image, not a photo of this event.