New Delhi: Dairy giant Amul on Saturday, March 28, 2026, issued a formal denial regarding the presence of “live weevils” in its curd products, labelling the allegations “scientifically and operationally impossible.” The statement follows a high-profile quality concern raised on the Patna-Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express earlier this week. Amul was summoned by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on Friday to explain the reported contamination, which led to a massive crackdown by Indian Railways on its catering partners.
In its official response, Amul clarified that a comprehensive audit of its ISO-certified production facilities and the entire value chain revealed no deviations from its strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The company pointed out that the acidic nature and lack of oxygen within sealed curd containers make it impossible for weevils to survive or reproduce. Furthermore, Amul asserted that the specific batch served on the train was not supplied through its authorized distribution network, suggesting the contamination “likely originated from an infested serving tray” or external handling by the onboard vendor.
The controversy has already resulted in severe financial penalties for those involved in the train’s catering services. On March 25, Indian Railways imposed a combined fine of ₹60 lakh—₹10 lakh on IRCTC for service deficiencies and ₹50 lakh on the private service provider. The latter’s contract has also been marked for termination. While Amul continues to defend its brand integrity, IRCTC officials stated they are reviewing the dairy major’s audit reports to ensure such lapses do not recur on premium train services.
