The Chief Executive Officer of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Shri G. Kamala Vardhana Rao, chaired a review meeting in Hyderabad to strengthen Telangana’s food safety ecosystem. Stressing the urgent need for 100% inspection of Packaged Drinking Water (PDW) units and rigorous checks on water treatment plants, he directed officials to increase sample collection, conduct risk-based inspections, and ensure timely adjudication of cases within 90 days under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006. He also praised the Government of Telangana’s 100 Days Action Plan for enhancing enforcement and public outreach on food safety.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Additional District Magistrates acting as Adjudicating Officers, and 50 Food Safety Officers (FSOs) from 33 districts, both in person and virtually. Discussions focused on improving compliance and enforcement across the state. To strengthen field-level monitoring, FSSAI announced the distribution of Rapid Analytical Food Testing (RAFT) kits to all FSOs and the increased deployment of mobile food testing labs for real-time surveillance.
The CEO also urged the fast-tracking of the Food Safety Laboratory in Hyderabad, assuring full support from FSSAI. This facility is expected to significantly boost the state’s food testing capacity and improve the speed and accuracy of sample analysis. He further stressed the importance of public engagement through awareness campaigns promoting healthier eating habits, such as reducing salt, sugar, and oil consumption, and addressing obesity.
Additionally, Shri Rao called for regular training programs for food handlers, particularly in anganwadis and hostels, to ensure public health safety. The meeting, attended by senior FSSAI officials, GHMC’s Chief Medical Officer, and the Director of the Institute of Preventive Medicine, concluded with a reaffirmation of the joint commitment between FSSAI and the Government of Telangana to achieve safer, healthier food for all through stricter enforcement, capacity building, and active public participation.
