The Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) has been officially launched to strengthen food safety measures and take strict action against food adulteration in the city. The new unit was established under the leadership of V.C. Sajjanar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad, working in close coordination with Food Safety Officers to ensure effective regulatory action and public health protection.
The unit was inaugurated by Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, IPS, marking a significant step towards creating a dedicated and intelligence-driven mechanism to combat the growing menace of food adulteration. The initiative aims to create a robust system for surveillance, detection, and prosecution of offences related to unsafe food practices across Hyderabad.
H-FAST comprises 28 personnel, including Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors, and supporting staff who will focus on identifying and taking action against food adulterators. The team will conduct coordinated raids with Food Safety Officers to ensure seamless enforcement and effective implementation of food safety regulations in the city.
The inaugural ceremony was attended by key team members including Inspectors N. Ranjith Kumar Goud and Anjaiah, along with Sub-Inspectors Ramya, Abhilash, Akhil, and Krishna, who will play crucial roles in the operational activities of the surveillance team. The entire team has been tasked with maintaining strict vigilance over food establishments and supply chains.
To encourage public participation in the fight against food adulteration, authorities have established a dedicated toll-free number 8712661212 for citizens to report instances of food adulteration and unsafe food practices. The public can also reach out through the official social media platforms of H-FAST to share information and lodge complaints, enabling quicker response times and wider community engagement.
Officials have emphasized that food adulteration is a serious criminal offence that poses a direct threat to public health and safety. A zero-tolerance approach will be followed in dealing with offenders, and stringent legal action will be taken against anyone found involved in such activities. The team has been empowered to conduct surprise inspections and take immediate action against violators.
The H-FAST team will work on ground-level surveillance to identify suspicious food manufacturing units, storage facilities, and distribution networks. The coordination between police personnel and Food Safety Officers is expected to create a comprehensive enforcement mechanism that addresses food safety violations more effectively than previous arrangements.
Citizens are encouraged to remain vigilant and actively report any suspicious food-related activities to help the authorities in their mission. The initiative has been issued by the office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Task Force, Hyderabad, and represents a major step forward in ensuring food safety standards across the city.
