Each day, millions of travelers use the Indian Railways, one of the biggest train networks in the world. While the system offers convenience and accessibility, it has been plagued by several challenges, one of which is the consistently low standards of catering services on Indian trains. The provision of quality and hygienic food during train journeys is a crucial aspect of passenger experience, safety, and well-being. Sadly, the current condition of the food services in Indian trains falls short of what the customers want and expect.
And it’s not only a story of regular trains. Even premium trains such as Vande Bharat Expresses are not untouched by this.
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The Vande Bharat Express is known as a train that ushered in a new age of luxury and modern amenities in rail travel. Since being introduced in 2019, it has marked a milestone for Indian Railways, as it assures passengers of an amazing journey. However, despite its numerous amenities, there have been some complaints that have raised concerns about its services.
A contentious fight over halal-certified tea on the Vande Bharat train goes viral
Similarly, one recent incident on the Vande Bharat Express garnered significant attention and created high drama onboard. Over a cup of tea that was halal-certified, a passenger and an Indian Railways employee got into a contentious disagreement while the train was moving. A video of the altercation swiftly gained popularity on social media and attracted a lot of attention.
In the viral video, the passenger stated his displeasure about tea being referred to as “halal.” The railroad employees made an effort to clarify that the tea was really vegetarian. They said that it had both the required FSSAI Certification and the “Green Dot” symbol, indicating that it was vegetarian. However, the traveler kept raising issues with the halal certification, especially emphasizing the month of “Sawan.”
Have a look at the viral video
ट्रैन या फ्लाइट में हलाल सर्टिफाइड खानपान के सामान का विरोध करे। Shocking as always
Halal certified Chai packet in Trains & flights..
This kattar Hindu strongly protested..This is Major issue which should be solved ..
Either have separate packing..
All companies .. pic.twitter.com/MLIhTlzUXu— AstroCounselKK🇮🇳 (@AstroCounselKK) July 19, 2023
IRCTC reacted to the whole controversy.
Amid the worsening situation, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) released a statement to clarify the reality. They informed passengers that the tea supplied on the train adhered to international standards and satisfied all requirements, both for home use and for export.
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They emphasized that the product was 100% vegetarian. It also added that it carried several certifications, including FSSAI, ISO, GMP, FDA, and Halal, among others. The mention of Halal certification was merely part of the product’s compliance for export to countries that mandated it. The IRCTC’s official statement said,
“Some sections in media have reported that some export quality tea is being served by IRCTC which has many certificates like FSSAI, ISO, GMP, FDA, Hallal, etc. But it is being highlighted by some media sections as it is only halal certified. The Ministry of Railways clarifies and reassures passengers that the product used is of international standards and hence, the manufacturer ensures all compliances, both domestic and the targeted countries for export purposes.”
IRCTC also reacted to the viral video on Twitter. Have a look at their response
Your concerns are appreciated . The mentioned brand premix tea has the mandatory FSSAI Certification . The product is 100% vegetarian with mandatory “Green Dot” indication. Further, as per the manufacturer , the product is also exported to other Countries which mandates “Halal…
— IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) July 19, 2023
The tea company also reacted to the incident.
Moreover, Chaizup, the manufacturer of the tea, released a statement to clarify the misconception. They claimed that their goods were completely vegetarian and that they only utilized natural ingredients to make them. These ingredients included milk powder and other plant-based substances. They made lab test results available, demonstrating that their products are vegetarian.
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