Hyderabad: Food Safety Walkathon Held, Minister Warns of Strict Action Against Adulteration
To strengthen enforcement, the government has appointed 24 new food inspectors and deployed five mobile food testing vehicles. Additionally, three new regional food testing laboratories will be established in Nizamabad, Hanamkonda, and Mahabubnagar at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
Hyderabad: Telangana Health Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha on Monday flagged off a Food Safety Awareness Walkathon from Jalavihar, with participation from around 1,000 students and youth. The walk concluded at HMDA Grounds near IMAX, where senior officials from the Health, Police, and Food Safety departments were present.
Addressing the gathering, the minister highlighted that changing lifestyles and rapid urbanisation have increased dependence on processed and imported food, raising serious food safety concerns. He warned that consumption of adulterated and substandard food can lead to long-term health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney disorders, and obesity, apart from immediate stomach ailments.
He noted that the state has approximately 1.41 lakh food business establishments, with nearly 80 percent located in urban areas, reflecting the growing demand for ready-to-eat and processed food.
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Emphasising the government’s strict approach, the minister said that over 11,000 inspections have been conducted in the past two years, and stringent action has been taken against violators, including hotels and restaurants using poor-quality ingredients. Legal proceedings are ongoing, and offenders will face serious consequences, he added.
To strengthen enforcement, the government has appointed 24 new food inspectors and deployed five mobile food testing vehicles. Additionally, three new regional food testing laboratories will be established in Nizamabad, Hanamkonda, and Mahabubnagar at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
The minister stated that under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the state government is committed to a zero-tolerance policy against food adulteration. He also announced plans to introduce a dedicated mechanism for food safety, similar to systems used to curb drug abuse, which may include strict legal measures and preventive detention for repeat offenders.
He stressed that unsafe food not only affects public health but also imposes a financial burden on families and indirectly harms the state’s economy. While acknowledging that the food industry plays a vital role in generating employment, he urged businesses to operate responsibly and strictly adhere to safety standards.
