H-FAST Cracks Down on Food Adulteration, Logs 185 Cases in Opening 100 Days

Hyderabad's newly formed Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) has made significant progress in combating food contamination, registering 185 cases and impounding approximately 122 tonnes of adulterated and hazardous food products during its initial 100 days.

The specialized unit, established on March 19 under the Hyderabad City Police umbrella, has been conducting coordinated enforcement operations with assistance from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Food Safety authorities, and the Veterinary department. Among the confiscated items were over 60 tonnes of substandard meat and chicken waste, 27 tonnes of adulterated ginger-garlic paste, 25.8 tonnes of chemically treated fruits, degraded pickles, artificial paneer, contaminated khoya, counterfeit tea powder, and compromised cream, ghee, curd, and dry fruits.

The enforcement action has been distributed unevenly across the city. Rajendranagar zone led with 55 cases, trailed by Golconda with 44 cases, Secunderabad with 35, Charminar with 21, Shamshabad with 13, Jubilee Hills with 12, and Khairatabad with 5 cases respectively.

Beyond criminal prosecution, H-FAST has forwarded 247 cases to municipal Food Safety Officers for administrative proceedings against paneer manufacturers, eating establishments, bakeries, student hostels, water treatment facilities, butcher shops, and various other food service operations.

Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar declared that food adulteration would be treated with the seriousness accorded to major criminal activities. He cautioned that those with repeated violations could face action under the Preventive Detention Act. Sajjanar appealed to residents to report suspected adulteration cases via emergency services at Dial 100 or the dedicated H-FAST helpline, guaranteeing complete anonymity for tipsters.

The Commissioner commended the H-FAST team's performance and highlighted the collaborative efforts between police, municipal corporations, food safety bodies, and veterinary services. He acknowledged the public's active participation in the initiative, noting that the Commissioner's office now receives approximately 15 reports daily. Sajjanar reiterated the department's readiness to apply preventive detention measures against organized food adulteration networks.