Western Railway Steps Up Food Safety With 1,523 Catering Inspections

Western Railway has increased food safety and hygiene monitoring at railway catering outlets, carrying out 1,523 regular and surprise inspections through July. The checks are focused on food quality, drinking water, cooking oil, cleanliness and compliance with approved catering rules.

855 Food Samples and 142 Water Samples Tested

As part of the inspection program, railway officials collected and tested 855 food samples to check their quality and safety. A total of 142 water samples, including packaged drinking water, were also collected for testing.

The inspections cover catering stalls and food services at railway stations and on trains. Officials are checking whether vendors follow required hygiene practices and serve food that meets prescribed standards.

48 TPM Meters Used to Check Cooking Oil

Western Railway has deployed 48 Total Polar Material, or TPM, meters to monitor the quality of cooking oil used by food vendors.

These meters allow officials to check oil quality on the spot. The equipment is especially useful for monitoring oil used repeatedly to prepare popular railway snacks such as samosas, vadas and bhajiyas. Regular testing helps identify oil that may no longer be suitable for continued use.

1,587 Kg of Waste Removed from Catering Areas

Cleanliness is another key part of the railway's food safety efforts. During its drives, Western Railway removed 1,587 kg of waste from catering locations.

Keeping food preparation and serving areas clean is important for maintaining proper hygiene and reducing the risk of contamination. Railway teams are continuing to monitor cleanliness at catering points as part of their wider safety checks.

Special Food Safety Drive Runs from August 15 to 31

Western Railway has also launched a special inspection campaign from August 15 to 31. Around 300 additional inspections are planned during this period.

Officials are checking several areas, including unauthorized food vendors, fire safety arrangements, approved food items and the quality and quantity of food served to passengers.

Action is being taken when violations are found, helping ensure that catering operators follow railway rules and food safety requirements.

Stronger Monitoring for Safer Railway Food

The increased checks come at a time when food quality and hygiene at public places are receiving greater attention, including through inspections by the Food and Drug Administration in Maharashtra.

Western Railway's expanded monitoring is aimed at giving passengers safer food and drinking water during their journeys. The use of TPM meters, food and water testing, cleanliness drives and surprise inspections provides officials with multiple ways to monitor catering services.

With a large number of passengers relying on railway food services every day, regular inspections can help maintain better hygiene standards and encourage vendors to follow safety rules consistently.