FGG Urges CM Revanth Reddy to Enforce Strict Action Against Food Adulterators

The Forum for Good Governance (FGG) has urged Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to streamline the procedure for follow-up action in food adulteration cases to ensure offenders do not escape prosecution or financial penalties.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Minister, FGG president M Padmanabha Reddy highlighted the process followed by enforcement authorities. Food safety officials collect suspected adulterated food samples from vendors across the state and send them for testing to the Food Testing Laboratory located at Nacharam. Following analysis, the laboratory categorises non-conforming samples into unsafe, substandard, or misbranded classifications before forwarding the final reports to the Commissioner of Food Safety.

According to the Forum, cases must be registered and criminal prosecution initiated in all instances where food samples are found to be unsafe. For matters involving substandard and misbranded products, the organisation noted that penalties may be imposed and cases compounded under relevant regulations.

An examination of laboratory data from the past three years conducted by the FGG revealed that a total of 1,310 food samples were classified as unsafe.

The year-wise breakdown shows that during 2023-24, out of 6,067 samples analysed at the facility, 802 were determined to be unsafe and 119 were found substandard. In 2024-25, testing was conducted on 3,372 samples, leading to 251 being classified as unsafe and 70 as substandard. In 2025-26, around 3,691 samples were analysed, with 257 classified as unsafe and 127 as substandard.

To prevent lapses in enforcement, the Forum suggested that cases involving monetary penalties should not be closed until the entire fine is collected, credited directly to the government account, and properly documented.

Padmanabha Reddy stated that establishing an effective follow-up mechanism would enhance accountability among enforcement agencies and reinforce food safety measures required to protect public health. He called on the Chief Minister to review the existing processes and take appropriate measures.