Andhra Pradesh Aims for Top 10 in Food Safety Index: Satya Kumar Yadav

The Andhra Pradesh government has directed the Food Safety Department to improve its performance and ensure the state ranks among the top ten in national food safety rankings by December . State Medical and Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav expressed dissatisfaction over Andhra Pradesh being placed 28th in the rankings released by the Centre in March last year .

Reviewing the department’s performance at the Directorate of Secondary Health headquarters in Kunchanapalli, Mangalagiri , the minister warned that negligence would not be tolerated and strict action would be taken if the situation does not improve.

He said the Food Safety Department plays a key role in protecting public health , stressing that effective control of food adulteration is essential to prevent serious diseases such as cancer. Officials were asked to work with dedication, and senior officers were instructed to take action against those showing negligence. The minister also announced periodic reviews to closely monitor the department’s progress.

Raising concerns over official attendance and field presence , he noted that some Food Safety Officers and Assistant Food Commissioners were not staying in their assigned jurisdictions and were joining virtual meetings from other locations. To address this, he ordered the immediate implementation of a facial recognition attendance system , with salary payments linked to it.

The minister also questioned why food sample collection targets were not being met . Each Food Safety Officer is required to collect 12 samples per month , but in the past 11 months only six out of 40 officers achieved the target . He also asked officials to explain why the state’s failed sample rate is only 8% compared to the national average of about 20% .

Satya Kumar Yadav further directed officials to make better use of the four mobile food safety laboratories provided by the Centre , increase milk sample testing in view of the adulterated milk incident in Rajamahendravaram , and assured that steps would be taken to fill 150 vacant posts .

State Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur instructed the department to implement paperless reporting and ensure that no cases remain pending beyond the stipulated time. Food Safety Commissioner Veerapandian and Director Neelakantha Reddy asked officials to conduct inspections as per FSSAI protocols and encourage traders to obtain required licences.