The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued an improvement notice to TajSATS, the catering partner of Air India. This action follows an incident on an Air India flight from Bengaluru to San Francisco on June 9th, where a passenger discovered a blade-like object in their meal, prompting a thorough inspection by the FSSAI.
Under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, an improvement notice is mandated when a food business operator fails to comply with regulatory requirements, necessitating corrective measures within a specified timeframe. TajSATS, part of the Tata Group and responsible for catering services for Air India, has been given 15 days to address the issues highlighted by the FSSAI. Investigations revealed that the foreign object in question originated from an automatic vegetable cutter at TajSATS Bengaluru’s facilities, inadvertently becoming lodged within the vegetable during processing. To prevent such occurrences in the future, FSSAI has mandated several corrective actions. These include the installation of x-ray machines for food inspection, reverting to manual vegetable chopping methods, and enhancing overall inspection and maintenance protocols.
Offcial FSSAI affirmed that FSSAI has been actively engaging with airlines and food suppliers to reinforce adherence to food safety norms across the board. This incident underscores the critical importance of stringent food safety practices in airline catering operations, aiming to uphold consumer confidence and regulatory compliance. Air India has expressed regret over the incident, attributing it to a mechanical malfunction during food processing. The airline has assured passengers of enhanced vigilance and stricter adherence to safety protocols moving forward. This regulatory intervention serves as a pivotal moment for TajSATS and the broader airline catering industry, highlighting the imperative of robust quality control measures to safeguard against potential hazards in inflight dining experiences.
