Hyderabad: Telangana and AP State Food Laboratory of Institute of Preventive Medicine that tests the food samples for adulteration, is in the dock with its officials being charged with corruption.
ACB Director General Mr J.Purnachandra Rao said, “On March 7, 2017 the food Inspector of Central Zone GHMC had collected samples of chicken biryani from Haveli Bar and Restaurant, Begumpet and sent the samples to SFL Nacharam for analysis. The analyst examined the samples and gave an ‘unsafe’ report. In order to change the report, the samples were sent to the Central Food Laboratory at Pune, at the behest of the owner K.V. Narsinga Rao. The Assistant Food Controller Balaji Raju colluded with the Chief Public Analyst to influence the Central Food Laboratory authorities at Pune.”
“An average of 10,000 samples of food items are sent for analysis by the GHMC every year. At an average, 10 to 20 per cent of the food items are found to be adulterated. The main causative agents for food adulteration are synthetic food colours, substandard food quality, misbranded food items. Sometimes the batch and date of manufacturing are not mentioned either. Hazardo-us synthetic colours like tatrazine, sunset yellow, erythrosine, fast green and brilliant blue are used that damage the liver, kidney and digestive system,” said Purnachandar Rao.
“Food officials in connivance with the officials of State Food Laboratory are demanding bribes to generate false reports. ACB has also seized the cellphones of the accused,” Mr Rao added.
