Latest Karnataka News: A special food safety inspection drive conducted by Karnataka’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) Department on August 20 uncovered several violations at railway food establishments,
including the suspected use of non-permitted colours, expired dairy products, unhygienic food-handling practices and fungal growth on vegetables.
The inspection covered 112 food establishments across 36 railway stations in Karnataka. Food safety teams inspected railway pantries, railway hotels and food served on trains as part of the state-wide drive.
The stations inspected included Bengaluru City Railway Station (KSR), Yeshwanthpura, Krishna Raja Puram, Yelahanka, Kolar, Mysuru, Haveri, Udupi, Koppal, Gadag, Davanagere, Bagalkote, Karwar, Yadgiri, Birur, Kadur Junction, Ballari, Hospet, Hubballi, and Mangaluru.
Suspected Unauthorised Colours Found In Sweets
The inspection teams found suspected use of non-permitted colours in food products at railway establishments. Yellow colour was suspected to have been used in jalebi, while pink colour was found in khova peda.
Officials also found expired Nandini curd and Dodla standardised milk packets at a railway station in Haveri district.
Unhygienic Conditions, Expired Food Found At Stations
At Krishna Raja Puram Railway Station, inspectors observed unhygienic conditions at a hotel. At Mysuru Railway Station, idlis were allegedly being prepared using plastic material. Expired food items were also found in the kitchen, according to the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department.
The inspection teams further found fungal growth on onions and other vegetables. Chutney was found stored in plastic buckets that were not suitable for food storage.
Food items, including vadas, were also found kept on newspapers, raising concerns over unhygienic food-handling practices.
Karnataka Food safety officials found expired milk & curd, fungal vegetables, food packed in newspapers, vadas kept on newspapers and suspected banned colours during inspections at 36 stations.
At Mysuru Railway Station, idlis were allegedly prepared using plastic material.
112… pic.twitter.com/Tu61t9cTdD
— Imran Khan (@KeypadGuerilla) August 20, 2026
Vande Bharat Trains Found Clean
The inspection also covered Vande Bharat Express services. The Vande Bharat trains operating on the Mangaluru-Kerala and Hubballi-Bengaluru routes were found to be clean.
However, violations were detected at other railway food establishments inspected during the drive, including suspected use of non-permitted colours, expired dairy products and unhygienic food-handling practices.
Legal Action To Follow
The Food Safety and Drug Administration Department said railway authorities and designated officers concerned would be informed about the violations observed during the inspections. “Further legal action will be initiated against the food business operators who have violated the prescribed food safety requirements,” the department said.
South Western Railway Launches 14-Day Food Safety Drive
Responding to the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department’s findings, South Western Railway (SWR) said it was committed to providing safe, hygienic and high-quality catering services to passengers. SWR said that, in line with directives from the Railway Board, it had already launched an intensive 14-day Special Food Safety Drive across all its divisions.
The ongoing drive focuses on comprehensive inspections covering hygiene and cleanliness, the validity of FSSAI licences, expiry dates of food products and overall food-handling practices at catering and vending establishments.
Monitoring Covers 428 Catering Establishments
SWR said its monitoring mechanism covers 428 catering establishments across the Bengaluru, Mysuru and Hubballi divisions. These include 34 major units, 272 minor units, 122 IRCTC units, 38 pantry cars and key base kitchens.
The railway said the inspections form part of its regular efforts to ensure that prescribed food safety and hygiene standards are followed by catering operators and vendors.
Railways Conducted 1,243 Inspections In 2025-26
According to SWR, the Railways conducted 1,243 food safety inspections during 2025-26, issued 129 Improvement Notices and analysed 528 food samples. Of these, 512 samples were found to be fully compliant, while strict legal and adjudication action was taken in cases involving unfit samples.
SWR Chief Public Relations Officer Manjunath Kanamadi said the railway would continue to take decisive action against vendors failing to meet prescribed standards. “SWR remains firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of food safety and hygiene,” Kanamadi said, adding that action against non-compliant vendors formed part of the railway’s daily operational mandates.
The latest inspection drive highlights continued scrutiny of food served to railway passengers, with authorities focusing on food quality, hygiene, storage practices, product validity and compliance with food safety regulations.
