“Did you microwave the roti?” Vande Bharat passenger raises serious health concerns about food served on train - video inside

Food served on trains has suddenly become a trending topic after a passenger traveling on the Vande Bharat Express raised questions about how meals are heated and served. A routine journey from Allahabad to Delhi turned into a public conversation on food safety, showing how even small details can grab attention when it comes to health.

This incident highlights that passengers are increasingly aware of what they consume, and simple practices like heating packaged rotis and snacks are no longer taken lightly.

Passenger raises important questions

In a video that has now gone viral on social media, a passenger questions the train catering staff about how her food was heated. She asks, “So you heated this in the microwave?”

The staff replied, “Did you want it cold?”

She clarified that her concern was not about temperature. “No, I don’t want it cold. But the packet says store in a cool and dry place. There is no mention that it can be microwaved. You are serving this to everyone on the train. What’s the authorisation?”


Her questions underline a concern that many travelers may not usually notice: the safety of heating food in sealed plastic packaging.

Similar experiences on other trains

The passenger also mentioned that she noticed the same practice on the Rajdhani Express between Delhi and Allahabad. She wrote, “The kachori was hot, but it was in a sealed packet. How was it heated? Was the entire packet microwaved?”

She noted that the “Halka Phulka” roti packet clearly states, “Store in a cool and dry place.” There is no instruction that it is microwave-safe. Despite this, the packets were handed over hot. The staff confirmed, “rotis were being heated directly in the packet.”

She added, “This may be operational convenience. But food safety should never rely on shortcuts.”

Why heating plastic can be risky

The concern is not trivial. According to online sources, certain plastics, when heated beyond recommended conditions, can release chemicals into food. Whether this is happening depends on the type of packaging and whether it is certified for heating. Repeated heating of non-certified packets could pose health risks.

IRCTC responds

The post quickly gained attention from IRCTC, the Ministry of Railways. IRCTC replied publicly, saying:

“Ma’am, our sincere apology for the inconvenience. Please DM your PNR and mobile number to enable us to address this.”

They followed up with: “Please share your PNR and mobile number to proceed with addressing your concerns. Your response will help us assist you promptly.”
Disclaimer: This article is based on information shared in viral social media posts and publicly available sources. The claims mentioned are as stated by the passenger in the video.

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