If you are a Muslim and travel on the India railway, you might have wondered whether the food served by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is halal or not.
Halal food is food that is permissible according to Islamic law, which prohibits the consumption of pork, alcohol, blood, and animals that are not slaughtered in the name of Allah. In this blog, we will explore the question Is IRCTC food halal or not?
Is IRCTC Food Halal?
To get a clear answer, we have to dig deeper and research many core areas of IRCTC catering services. First, we take an overview of IRCTC catering services.
Overview of IRCTC Catering Services
IRCTC, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, manages catering, tourism, and online ticketing operations. In terms of catering, it offers various services to passengers.
1. Types of Catering Services
- Pantry Car:– A dedicated coach on trains that prepares and serves food to passengers during their journey. The quality and menu may vary based on the train and route.
- e-Catering:– An online food ordering service that allows passengers to choose from a range of restaurants and brands like Dominos, Haldirams, Saravana Bhavan, Faasos, Biryani Blues, Behrouz Biryani, etc. The food is delivered either to the passenger’s seat or at selected stations.
- Station Food Stalls:– Vendors and stalls at railway stations where passengers can purchase food and beverages while waiting for their train or during stopovers.
2. Variety of Food Options
- Vegetarian and Non-vegetarian:– IRCTC offers both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, with packaging and menu indicating the distinction through colored dots (green for vegetarian, red for non-vegetarian).
- Regional and Continental:– Passengers can choose from a diverse range of regional and continental cuisines such as South Indian, North Indian, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Bengali, Chinese, and Italian.
- Jain and Diabetic:– Special food options are available for passengers following Jainism or those with diabetes. Jain food excludes onion, garlic, and root vegetables, while diabetic food is prepared with low sugar and salt content.
Does IRCTC have halal certification for its food?
The answer to this question is not straightforward as IRCTC does not have a blanket halal, but it does offer some halal products.
For example, IRCTC has halal certification for its tea premix, which is used to prepare tea in the pantry car and e-catering services.
The tea premix is manufactured by a company called Wagh Bakri, which has obtained halal certification from Halal India Pvt Ltd.
IRCTC also has halal certification for some of its e-catering vendors. Many vendors have obtained halal certification from various halal certification bodies, such as Halal India Pvt Ltd, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Halal Trust, Halal Committee Jamiat Ulema-e-Maharashtra, etc.
However, IRCTC does not have halal certification for its pantry car food, station food stalls, and some of its e-catering vendors, such as Dominos, Haldirams, Saravana Bhavan, etc. These food services do not have any halal certification or claim to be halal and may contain haram ingredients or contamination.
Moreover, according to a Quora response from a random Muslim user, Indian trains reportedly offer halal food, including biryani, kebabs, samosas, and pakoras.
IRCTC supposedly provides a special halal menu during Ramadan, offering dishes suitable for fasting Muslims. Passengers can allegedly order halal food by speaking to the pantry car attendant or contacting IRCTC’s customer care.
However, the authenticity of this information cannot be verified. So we can’t trust this source.
In summary, IRCTC offers some halal-certified products and vendors, but not all its food services are halal-certified.
Transparency and Assurance
IRCTC implements several measures to maintain halal standards in its food services:
- Quality Control Cell:- IRCTC has a Quality Control Cell responsible for monitoring and inspecting food quality and hygiene. This includes regular audits and checks on vendors, suppliers, and pantry car staff to ensure compliance with FSSAI regulations and IRCTC guidelines.
- Feedback and Grievance Redressal System:- Passengers can provide feedback and lodge complaints regarding food services through various channels like toll-free numbers, email, website, and social media. IRCTC claims to address and resolve feedback and complaints within 36 hours.
- Transparency in Sourcing and Preparation:- IRCTC offers transparency by providing information about food vendors, suppliers, menu, ingredients, and nutritional value on its website, app, or through QR codes on food packaging.
However, IRCTC does not provide specific information or assurance regarding the halal status of its food services. Passengers must rely on their judgment and discretion.
While they can inquire about the halal status from food staff or vendors, obtaining a clear or accurate answer may be challenging.
Read: Is Fresho Chicken Halal?
Conclusion
Is IRCTC food halal or not? The answer is not straightforward or simple. The halal status of IRCTC food varies depending on the service and product.
Halal-certified options are available through e-catering and for the tea premix, while pantry car food, station food stalls, and some e-Catering vendors lack halal certification.
Muslim travelers are advised to research, inquire, and exercise caution when choosing IRCTC food. Bringing their own halal-certified food or ordering from trusted sources outside IRCTC is recommended.