Vijayawada, March 14, 2026: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav pulled up food safety department officials during a performance review, slamming the state's 28th position in the national Food Safety Index based on recent Union government data.
He blamed past mismanagement for the slide and stressed that stronger monitoring of food quality protects public health and can prevent diseases like cancer.
The minister directed monthly senior-level reviews, his own quarterly assessments, and implementation of a face recognition attendance system tied to salaries.
He highlighted issues like low sample collection many Food Safety Officers fell short of monthly targets, and underuse of central-provided mobile labs.
Officials in several districts were found residing far from duty stations, drawing sharp rebuke. The state has received around ₹130 crore from the Centre to upgrade labs and infrastructure.
