Food quality on trains to get better? IRCTC and QCI to crack down with surprise audits

The food quality on trains may see an improvement with the Quality Council of India (QCI) looking to appoint certified professionals to carry out independent, technology-enabled checks of food safety and hygiene at railway stations and aboard trains across the Indian Railways network.Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with QCI to strengthen compliance with food safety and hygiene standards across the railway system, according to a statement issued by the Railway Ministry"Under this strategic alliance, QCI will deploy certified professionals to conduct intense, unannounced quarterly and half-yearly inspection cycles," the ministry said.It added: "These audits will enforce strict compliance with statutory Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations and international culinary standards."Addressing passenger complaints on foodOfficials said the decision to introduce independent inspections followed repeated passenger complaints about poor food quality and unhygienic catering practices.