TG SAFE Steps Up Scrutiny on Telangana Food Vendors with 81 Police Personnel

Roadside food vendors across Hyderabad and Telangana will face increased scrutiny as the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) expands its enforcement operations with Rs 15 crore in initial funding and a team of 81 police personnel.

TG SAFE commissioner Avinash Mohanty stated that no food business operator would be spared if found violating food safety regulations. He urged roadside vendors to maintain hygiene standards and adhere to food safety guidelines.

The agency was established following directives from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to tackle food adulteration by bringing scattered food safety operations under a single unified organisation. Mohanty noted that while nearly one lakh food business operators (FBOs) are registered in the state, the actual number is estimated to exceed three lakh.

To build a dedicated enforcement wing, 81 police personnel, including a DSP-rank officer, head constables, and constables, have joined TG SAFE. The selected personnel have academic backgrounds in chemistry, enabling them to handle the technical aspects of food safety. They are undergoing training to support food safety officers during inspections and field operations.

Efforts are also underway to upgrade testing infrastructure. While the Drugs Control Administration possesses upgraded facilities, the food safety laboratory at Nacharam requires additional staff and machinery. The department plans to utilise FSSAI funds for upgrades, and officials are scheduled to visit laboratories in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to study their operational models.

Mohanty said the department also aims to increase the number of food safety officers from the current 21 to around 100 to support routine enforcement drives. Proposals for dedicated enforcement vehicles and a separate police station will be submitted to a state-level committee during its upcoming inaugural meeting.