In order to improve onboard catering services and eradicate unlawful selling, Indian Railways has introduced digitally traceable food packages and QR code-enabled identification cards, as Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed Parliament on Thursday.
All vendors and assistance in the catering industry are now required to carry identification cards with QR codes, according to the minister’s response in the Lok Sabha. To guarantee authenticity and accountability, these identifiers are associated with crucial facts like vendor identification, Aadhaar number, medical fitness, and police verification.
One way to make food services more transparent is by using QR codes on packaging. These codes provide important details like the kitchen from where the food was prepared and the date of preparation, which allows for traceability.
Meals are now sourced from authorised base kitchens, contemporary kitchens have been commissioned, CCTV cameras have been installed to oversee food preparation, and branded raw materials are being used; all in an effort to improve quality, hygiene, and food safety on the Indian Railways. Hygiene regulations are being strictly enforced by the deployment of food safety supervisors.
It is therefore imperative that all catering units adhere to the regulations set out by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. In addition to conducting customer satisfaction questionnaires on a regular basis, third-party auditors are checking the pantry vehicles and base kitchens for quality.
