Kochi: Despite repeated complaints, warnings, and public outrage, unhygienic practices in train pantry services continue to plague Indian Railways.

A fresh investigation by Mathrubhumi News has revealed disturbing visuals from trains that suggest widespread disregard for food safety and sanitation norms.

One video accessed during the probe shows a pantry staff member spitting inside a coach after chewing what is suspected to be pan. In another scene, a tea kettle used to serve passengers is seen placed next to a toilet.

Adding to the shock, a separate clip shows pantry workers throwing garbage out of moving trains onto public areas, including water bodies.

In response to mounting incidents, the Central Railway had in 2024 issued strict warnings to pantry car staff and food vendors at railway stations, calling for stringent hygiene standards. However, these visuals indicate that violations persist, raising serious concerns over passenger health and regulatory oversight.

Earlier this year, passengers on the Vande Bharat Express in Kerala filed a complaint after catering staff attempted to serve potentially contaminated food. The incident occurred when food packets fell onto the platform during delivery at Thiruvananthapuram station. Some containers had opened, and despite visible contamination, staff reportedly repacked and loaded the food onto the train bound for Kasaragod.

In a similar raid in May, authorities seized stale and decayed food items, including rotten meat and spoiled eggs, from a catering centre in Kadavanthra, Ernakulam, which was operating without a proper corporation license. The unit supplied meals to several trains, including the Vande Bharat Express.