Telangana targets oils, spices, bakeries, mineral water units in month-wise food safety drives

Targeted inspections of high-risk food categories have shaped Telangana’s food safety enforcement over the past year, with the State adopting month-wise drives covering edible oils, seeds and spices, bakeries and packaged drinking water facilities.

Speaking with The Hindu, Telangana’s Commissioner of Food Safety Sangeetha Satyanarayana said that the department aligned its field activity with national initiatives of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), directing districts to focus on specific food categories each month. “Oils were taken up most recently, following earlier drives on seeds and spices, while bakeries and mineral water units are currently under scrutiny due to higher public health risks associated with contamination and handling practices,” she added.

Packaged drinking water has presented particular operational challenges, she said, as testing requires microbiological samples collected and transport using sterile kits and specialised protocols. With many Food Safety Officers (FSOs) newly trained, the department has sought approval from FSSAI to procure standardised sampling kits once annual quotas are sanctioned.

Alongside category-wise inspections, the department has also attempted to streamline enforcement processes that had weakened over time. Posts of Food Safety Officers and designated officers were filled across districts, notifications were reissued and basic procedures were reset. “While enforcement activity earlier remained concentrated within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits due to population density, similar systems have now been revived across the State,” she said.

Inspections are backed by two types of sampling. Surveillance samples are used to assess overall quality, while act samples are legally enforceable and form the basis for prosecution. Districts have been pushed to meet defined targets for both. Act samples are tested within the mandated 14-day window, while surveillance samples may take up to 20 days, partly because Telangana’s lone food testing laboratory continues to process samples from Andhra Pradesh as well, stretching capacity.

If food is found unsafe or substandard, prosecution or adjudication follows a multi-step process involving designated officers and, in some cases, additional collectors acting as adjudicating authorities. Ms. Satyanarayana said that the department has urged officials to impose meaningful penalties rather than nominal fines, noting that small amounts fail to deter repeat violations.

Inspections have extended to e-commerce warehouses as well, with officials registering facilities, checking packaged foods for expiry compliance and issuing improvement notices where required. Any unsafe or substandard findings are referred for adjudication or prosecution, though issues related to warehouse location or local disturbances fall outside the department’s jurisdiction.

“Food safety is not just about raids. It is about targeting the riskiest foods, strengthening systems and making both businesses and consumers aware of the standards they must follow,” she added.