Indian railways serve unhygienic food on trains: official report

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NEW DELHI, July 22 (BSS/XINHUA) – India’s official auditing agency, Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), said food served by Indian railways on its trains and stations is unhygienic and unfit for human consumption.

The report on the catering services in the Indian Railways was presented in Indian parliament on Friday.

“Contaminated foodstuff, recycled foodstuff, packaged and bottled items past their shelf life, food articles unsuitable for human consumption, and unauthorised brands of water bottles were offered for sale at stations,” an official quoting the report said.

The annual audit report has been complied after inspection on 80 trains and at 74 stations.

“Unpurified water straight from tap was used in preparation of beverages,waste bins were not found covered, not emptied regularly and not washed, food stuff were not covered to protect them from flies, insects and dust, rats andcockroaches were found in trains etc,” the audit report said.

The auditors found catering services devoid of cleanliness and hygiene,besides food items served in mobile units in trains without providing bills.

Indian sprawling railways is the world’s third largest network, ferryingaround 23 million people each day.