Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Delhi for the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled for September 12 and 13 at Bharat Mandapam. While luxury hotels across the capital prepare elaborate menus for visiting
leaders, reports suggest Putin’s plate follows a very different set of rules.
According to media reports, Putin is staying at ITC Maurya during his Delhi visit.
The 73-year-old leader is known for one of the most tightly controlled food systems among world leaders. He reportedly does not rely on hotel kitchens or host-country catering during foreign visits. Instead, he travels with his own team of chefs and support staff from Russia. Ingredients undergo extensive checks, and meals are prepared in secure kitchens set up specifically for his stay. Mobile food-testing equipment is also said to accompany the delegation.
This means that even when a visiting leader is surrounded by five-star hospitality, his personal food arrangements can remain largely separate from the hotel kitchen.
Putin’s Diet and Food Protocol
Putin’s protection involves four layers, including personal guards, less conspicuous security personnel, a perimeter preventing suspicious individuals from approaching him and snipers positioned around locations where he stays.
Just like his security arrangements, the reported security protocol does not stop at ingredients and preparation. According to a BBC report, Putin has an official food taster who checks the food before it is served to him. The report says the same precaution is followed for drinks
His everyday diet, by contrast, is relatively simple and protein-focused. Breakfast often features tvorog, a Russian-style cottage cheese, served with honey or porridge. Fresh juices are a regular feature, sometimes accompanied by omelettes or raw quail eggs. Fish, both fresh and smoked, appears frequently, while lamb is included occasionally. Rich, heavily seasoned dishes are generally avoided.
Simple salads made with tomatoes and cucumbers form part of the meals. Sweet desserts and pastries are largely skipped except on special occasions. One reported exception is pistachio ice cream, often cited as a personal favourite. Drinks typically include fresh juices, kefir and herbal infusions, along with traditional Russian blends such as beetroot and horseradish preparations.
Even at formal state banquets, the food Putin consumes may be prepared separately by his own team rather than the host kitchen. While exceptions can occur, the overall approach remains highly controlled.
While Delhi’s hotels have prepared special Indian and international menus for BRICS delegates, Putin’s reported travel food protocol shows just how tightly controlled meals can become when food security is treated as part of a head of state’s wider protection system.
