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A woman traveling on a train wondered why roti and kachori were served hot inside sealed plastic containers.
She raised food safety concerns and sought answers from railway authorities. (Image source: X)
The train journey has turned into a serious food safety concern for the passenger traveling between Allahabad and Delhi. She wondered how food was served on board after noticing that roti and kachori were served hot inside sealed plastic containers. What started as a simple booth soon led to public complaint.
The woman recorded her interaction with the train staff, and later shared a detailed post online. It raised questions about whether the plastic packaging is safe to heat directly in the microwave, and asked the railway authorities to clarify the process.
Public health issue alert A woman asks the staff how to keep warm
In the video, the woman is seen asking an employee: “Did you heat this in the microwave?” The staff responded, “Did you want a cold one?” “No, no, I don’t want it to be cold. So, it’s okay to cook all the dishes in the microwave. Now, it says to store it in a cool, dry place. You’re serving this food to everyone on the train. What’s the declaration? There’s no special information in it. It says to store it in a cool, dry place. You just said you’re heating it in the microwave,” she explained.
I continued to question him and asked him: Tell me where it says that? The clerk replied, “It’s not written. It’s written here for storage.” Then she insisted, “Can you tell me, where on this package does it say it can be microwaved?”
She expressed further concern, saying: “So, you don’t think so. Understand one basic thing. This is plastic. If you put it directly in the microwave. Where does it say you can put it directly in the microwave? I want to file a complaint.”
She also added: “When I have to complain, I already do and I will. Of course I will.”
Post highlights interest in public health
Later, she explained the issue in a detailed post on
Public health issue alert
She noted that the packaging clearly stated “store in a cool, dry place,” but did not mention microwave use or say it was microwave safe. She wrote that the packages were visibly hot when served and that an employee confirmed that they were heated directly in the package.
She asked whether the packaging was approved for such heating and warned that heating plastic without proper instructions could lead to chemicals mixing with the food. She flagged down the railway authorities and asked who had authorized the practice.
She demanded clarification and wrote that passenger safety should not be ignored for the sake of convenience. It also warned against shifting blame between departments and vendors, and called for taking clear measures and corrective steps.
After the post gained attention, the official account of IRCTC replied: “Madam, please share your PNR number and mobile number to continue addressing your concerns. Your response will help us to assist you immediately.”
Madam, please share your PNR number and mobile number to continue addressing your concerns. Your response will help us help you immediately. https://t.co/jQ5E3ENhNu
– IRCTC (IRCTCofficial) February 19, 2026
Many users supported her concern. One person said: “Train your staff and pay their salaries. If there are illiterate people working on trains, these things will happen… See how it’s done on planes and copy, if you want to sell warm meals.”
Another commented, “Rule 1: Don’t buy anything except water in IRCTC.”
“Totally agree. The health of passengers is being put at risk by these IRCTC vendors,” one user wrote.
“Post this public health alert. Be careful when traveling on Indian trains and eating what you paid for,” one person stated.
Heating plastic containers may release harmful chemicals
Heating plastic that is not labeled “microwave safe” can cause chemicals to mix with the food. Studies published in PubMed Central (PMC8157593) show that phthalates, which are used to make plastic flexible, can affect hormones in the body. Exposure has been linked to developmental and reproductive health concerns, especially in children and adolescents.
Another study in PubMed Central (PMC11385141) suggests that early exposure to some phthalates may affect metabolism and hormone balance. The researchers warn that heat can increase the migration of chemicals, making it important to use only approved, heat-safe packaging for serving food.
Delhi, India, India
19 February 2026 at 11:00 IST
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