Top News

Women vendors allegedly paint cucumbers green to make them look fresh at Bihar’s Katihar station, watch video
ET Online | May 8, 2026 11:38 PM CST

Synopsis

A viral video from Katihar railway station in Bihar shows a woman allegedly applying a green liquid to cucumbers. This has sparked widespread concern on social media regarding food safety. The incident follows a previous food safety issue on the Vande Bharat Express where worms were found in curd. Authorities are urged to investigate the cucumber incident thoroughly.

Screenshots from the viral video showing a vegetable vendor painting the cucumbers green to make them look fresh.
A viral video from Bihar’s Katihar railway station showing a woman allegedly coating cucumbers with a green-coloured liquid has triggered widespread concern on social media, with several users raising questions about food safety and regulatory oversight.

In the video, a woman is seen applying what appears to be green paint or colouring liquid to cucumbers while sitting beside containers filled with water. Another woman nearby is seen washing the cucumbers before they are allegedly dipped into the solution. The visual difference between the treated and untreated cucumbers is clearly visible in the clip.

The exact nature of the liquid used in the process has not been confirmed.



Social media users raise food safety concerns

The video quickly gained traction online, prompting strong reactions from social media users, many of whom expressed concern over possible health risks.

One user wrote that strict action should be taken against anyone endangering public health, regardless of whether they are poor or wealthy, adding that consumers would eventually eat such products.

Another user commented that the woman appeared to care only about selling the cucumbers without considering public health implications.

Some users, however, questioned whether assumptions were being made without sufficient information. One comment stated that it was unclear whether the colour used was harmful and pointed out that many food products already contain colouring agents.

Another user described the incident as “extremely dangerous” and urged authorities and the railways to investigate the matter immediately.

Earlier food safety incident on Vande Bharat Express

The latest controversy comes months after another food safety incident linked to Indian Railways drew attention.

On March 15, 2026, a passenger travelling on the Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express allegedly found worms in curd served onboard train number 21896. The complaint prompted an official response from railway authorities, who said the matter was treated seriously.

According to officials, IRCTC was fined ₹10 lakh following the incident. The onboard service provider was also penalised ₹50 lakh and instructed to terminate the contract.

The curd involved in the incident was reportedly supplied by Amul. The case raised concerns about food quality standards on premium railway services such as the Vande Bharat Express.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK