Daijiworld Media Network – Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 21: Food safety inspections at railway stations across Karnataka have uncovered several violations, including suspected use of non-permitted colours in sweets, expired dairy products, unhygienic food preparation practices and fungal growth in vegetables.
The Food Safety and Drug Administration department conducted a special inspection at 112 food establishments across 36 railway stations on Thursday. The checks covered railway pantries, hotels, catering outlets and food served on trains.
The inspections were carried out at major railway stations including KSR Bengaluru, Yeshwanthpura, Krishnarajapuram, Yelahanka, Mysuru, Haveri, Udupi, Koppal, Gadag, Davanagere, Bagalkote, Karwar, Yadgiri, Kadur, Ballari, Hosapete, Hubballi and Mangaluru.
Officials detected suspected use of non-permitted colours in food products, with yellow colour reportedly found in jalebi and pink colour in khova peda. Expired curd and standardised milk packets were also found at a railway station in Haveri district.
At Krishnarajapuram Railway Station, an associated hotel was found operating under unhygienic conditions. At Mysuru Railway Station, officials found idlis being prepared using plastic material, besides expired food items in the kitchen.
Inspection teams also noticed fungal growth on onions and other vegetables. Chutney was reportedly stored in plastic buckets that were unsuitable for food storage.
The department said railway authorities and designated officials would be informed about the violations and legal action would be initiated against food business operators found violating prescribed food safety requirements.
Meanwhile, South Western Railway (SWR) said it had already launched an intensive 14-day Special Food Safety Drive across its divisions in accordance with Railway Board directives.
The drive focuses on hygiene and cleanliness, validity of FSSAI licences, expiry dates of food products and food-handling practices at catering and vending establishments.
SWR said its monitoring network covers 428 catering establishments across the Bengaluru, Mysuru and Hubballi divisions, including 34 major units, 272 minor units, 122 IRCTC units, 38 pantry cars and key base kitchens.
During 2026-27 up to July, railway food safety officers conducted 271 inspections, issued 29 improvement notices and collected 170 food samples. Statutory proceedings were initiated against three samples found to be unfit.
In 2025-26, SWR conducted 4,373 surprise inspections and imposed penalties totalling Rs 5.22 lakh. A further 1,377 inspections conducted up to July this year resulted in penalties of Rs 64,000.
SWR said irregularities such as improper storage, unauthorised packaging, use of unapproved food colours and expired food products could lead to show-cause notices, financial penalties and termination of contracts under applicable provisions.
SWR Chief Public Relations Officer Manjunath Kanamadi said the railway authorities remain committed to maintaining high standards of food safety and hygiene and would take strict action against vendors failing to meet prescribed requirements.