No reuse: Government steps in to clarify viral video of train food containers being cleaned; calls the claims ‘misleading’

New Delhi: The Press Information Bureau (PIB) Fact Check has stepped in to clarify a viral video that recently sparked public outrage over hygiene standards on Indian Railways. The video, which circulated widely across social media platforms, claimed that pantry car staff on an express train were reusing disposable food containers served to passengers.

The clip, reportedly associated with Train Number 16601 (the Erode-Jogbani Amrit Bharat Express), appeared to show staff cleaning the used containers, leading many users to question the cleanliness and health risks associated with catering services.

The PIB, the government's official fact-checking body, issued a clear statement on X (formerly Twitter), declaring the claim "misleading." The post stated, "The containers served to passengers were not reused. They were only cleaned before disposal."

IRCTC's Initial Action

Before the PIB's clarification, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) had already responded forcefully to the public outcry. Taking the matter "very seriously," IRCTC had publicly stated on X that the concerned vendor had been immediately identified and removed. Furthermore, the process to cancel the licensee's contract and impose a heavy fine was underway.