AP yet to have functional food testing lab after 11 years

Food safety is a growing concern in Andhra Pradesh. Raids and inspections across the State have exposed widespread adulteration. Yet, 11 years after bifurcation, the State still does not have a food testing laboratory of its own.

The much-publicised Andhra Pradesh State Food Laboratory in Visakhapatnam remains locked. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the facility on February 25, 2024, after an investment of Rs 4.77 crore was made in its construction. But despite the investment, it has not started operations.

Instead, food samples from raids continue to be sent to Hyderabad. In many cases, officials turn to private labs in Andhra Pradesh, paying between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 per sample. This has raised serious questions about both costs and credibility.

Last month, Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav assured that the Visakhapatnam lab would open by September-end. He said equipment was installed and procurement was nearing completion. However, insiders say the deadline will almost certainly be missed.

“For the State food laboratory to function, around 75 personnel are required. No recruitment notification has been issued so far. Even if half the staff were appointed, the lab could begin basic operations. Without hiring, it is impossible for the laboratory to run,” a senior official told The Coastal Times.

The staffing shortage is long-standing. In July, the Health Minister urged Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to fill vacancies in the Directorate of Institute of Preventive Medicine. Of 723 sanctioned posts, only 143 are filled. Although the Chief Minister directed officials to recruit 150 staff in the first phase, the process has not yet started.

According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), Andhra Pradesh has only one State food laboratory — the non-functional unit in Visakhapatnam. Four private labs are operational instead. The State’s poor ranking in the Food Safety Index reflects these gaps.

Officials insist that work at the Visakhapatnam lab is progressing “at a brisk pace.” But without staff and a clear timeline, Andhra Pradesh will continue to depend on private agencies and Hyderabad to test the food its people consume.