Food Safety Seminar by Railways

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
A Food safety seminar was conducted by Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division on 08th February 2017 at Railway Divisional Office Thycaud, involving food regulators and Food business operators.
Prakash Butani, Divisional Railway Manager inaugurated the seminar. KS Jain, Additionbal Divisional Railway Manager, Dr Navjoth Khosa, Food Safety Commissioner, Government of Kerala , Dr Marry Mathew, Chief Medical Superintendent, Railways and senior officers of commercial and Health department from southern Railway and food safety department of Government of Kerala were present and lead the seminar. Twenty five catering licensees of Railways also attended the seminar.
Seminar emphasized the need on good hygiene and safe practices in running food business, improvement required in Railway food handling, method to ensure quality etc. Checking of Unauthorized vending and selling of unauthorized brands of items will be strictly monitored. Special attention will be paid to Tirunelveli, Kayankulam, Alappuzha and Thrissur area as more complaints are being received from these areas. Provision of ID cards/name badges will be ensured. More care will be paid to cleanliness of utensils used in pantry cars.
Prima facie reason for recent incidence of suspected food poisoning at Ernakulam Town is attributed to the system of preparation of food outside the Railway premises. Industrial base kitchens will be set up at Trivandrum and Ernakulam with IRCTC to make an end to this.
Railway has a set system of monitoring to ensure hygiene and quality.A system of own your pantry, where officers and senior supervisors are travelling in long distance trains from end to end to monitor quality of service. License of six pantry car catering service providers were suspen
ded and that of Two were terminated during last year.
Passengers can register their complaints in Railway service facilitation number 138, in Twitter Handle of @tvc138, by email to seniordcmtvc@gmail.com and srdcm@tvc.railnet.gov.in,
Railways is trying to collect telephone numbers of authorized food suppliers which will be provided to train manning staff so that passengers can place their order for food directly to suppliers. This facility will be apart from the IRCTC e catering service. Tea/Coffee preparation will be monitored to ensure quality. Cash bill/ Coupen for all food items will be implemented from 21st February 2017 under Trivandrum division so that passengers can demand bill/couopon for for any food item supplied .
It is decided to ensure cash bill / coupon for all catering purchase from Railway stations under Thiruvananthapuram Division. Regular classes and counseling to food handlers and thorough inspection of eateries.