Significant Update

Amul has rejected claims that its curd served on a Vande Bharat Express contained weevils, calling such contamination “scientifically impossible” within its production process. The company said its investigation found no evidence of contamination at the manufacturing stage and suggested that the issue may have occurred during onboard handling. The controversy began on March 15 after a viral video showed what appeared to be live weevils in a sealed cup of curd served on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express. The incident raised concerns about food safety on the train and prompted authorities to take action.

Amul Rejects Manufacturing Contamination

In an official statement posted on X, Amul said it conducted a comprehensive investigation and held discussions with officials from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. The company stated that it found no deviations or non-conformities across its supply chain. According to Amul, such infestation cannot occur within its production cycle. The company added that the specific batch in question was not supplied to the train through its authorised distribution network, suggesting that the product may have entered the supply chain through other channels.

Scientific Explanation for the Claim

Amul also explained why the presence of weevils inside sealed curd is unlikely from a scientific standpoint. The company said weevils cannot survive or reproduce inside curd due to the product’s acidic environment and the lack of oxygen. It further noted that curd requires continuous refrigeration, which is incompatible with the warm and dry conditions that pests such as weevils need to thrive. Based on its analysis of the viral video, Amul suggested that the contamination may have occurred during the serving stage rather than during manufacturing. The company said the pests may have originated from an infested serving tray used by the onboard vendor.

Railways Takes Action

Meanwhile, the incident prompted strict action from railway authorities. After the video circulated widely online and passengers raised concerns, the Ministry of Railways imposed a ₹50 lakh penalty on the catering service provider and ordered termination of its contract. Authorities also fined IRCTC ₹10 lakh for lapses in ensuring food quality on the train. Railway officials said they took the complaint seriously and emphasised that passenger safety and food quality remain a priority.

Source: Financial Express