Rajasthan Tops India in Combating Food Adulteration: Minister

Jaipur: Rajasthan has emerged as the leading state in the country for taking decisive action against food adulteration, Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar announced on Thursday. Addressing the Legislative Assembly, the minister reaffirmed the state government's commitment to ensuring the purity and safety of consumables, including fruits, vegetables, and other food items.

Highlighting recent enforcement efforts, Khimsar revealed that between March 3 and March 12, 2025, the health department conducted 1,340 food inspections and collected 3,363 samples, including those from well-known brands. Several FIRs have been lodged against individuals and vendors found guilty of adulterating food products.

Responding to an attention motion by MLA Bhagchand Tankada, the minister emphasized that Rajasthan has exceeded expectations, collecting 284 percent more food samples than mandated by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) under the Food Safety Act. Surprise inspections and strict penalties have been key components of the state's robust strategy to curb adulteration.

Currently, Rajasthan operates 11 fully functional food testing laboratories located in Alwar, Bharatpur, Kota, Bikaner, Ajmer, Udaipur, Banswara, Jalore, Churu, Jaipur, and Jodhpur. To further strengthen testing capacity, seven new laboratories have been established in Sikar, Nagaur, Barmer, Dholpur, Sriganganagar, Bhilwara, and Baran, which are set to commence operations soon.

In addition, the Rajasthan government has made budgetary provisions for the fiscal year 2025-26 to set up new labs in Hanumangarh, Sawai Madhopur, Jaisalmer, Pali, Sirohi, Chittorgarh, and Dungarpur, enhancing the state's infrastructure for food safety.

Recognizing the need for increased manpower, the minister stated that while 97 food safety officers are currently employed, the recruitment process for 300 additional officers is underway to ensure more frequent and effective inspections.

Khimsar also called on municipal bodies to crack down on the use of contaminated water for cultivating fruits and vegetables and urged food vendors to adhere to ethical practices, prioritizing public health over profits.