This is why you got food poisoned: 8 million people in Hyderabad and only 4 food safety officers!

If we are poisoned by one of these eateries, then don’t complain, as the City Corporation seems least concerned for food safety and its standards.

This, you many not digest. Four food safety officers of GHMC must conduct the impossible task of ensuring food safety standards of a City of eight million.

The state government does not seem to be too conerned about implementing the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, says consumer forum office-bearers. Apart from inspecting the samples of raw food items like oil and pulses, these officers also have to obey the orders of the Health Wing under GHMC in dealing with restaurants.

Meanwhile, the monthly samples, which must be checked by the Food Safety Officers, has recently gone up from an average of 8 to 22.

According to one of the Food Safety Officers, there should have been at least 18 such officers in the GHMC covering all the circles. “We used to check eight samples each month, but recently the target was set to 22,” says one of the Officers, under the condition of anonymity.

Besides inspecting samples, these officials are engaged by the GHMC for inspecting food items of hotels and roadside eateries under the guidance of two AMOH, (Assistant Medical Officers of Health) who will either act at their will or on complaints from the Health Wing of Corporation.

Interestingly, the post of the Chief Medical Officer of Health is also vacant for about five months, since Dr D Shalini Devi was transferred.

Even though the GHMC is set to start the process of filling up 2,500 jobs, the process may take at least one or two years. “This particular segment of food safety will be filled with 26 jobs during this process, but in the second phase. Even though the government has given a nod for this, it would not surprise many if the coming government forgets its promise”, laments the official.

According to K R K Murthy, convenor, Consumer Forum of India, if the situation persists in the City, health issues such as Diarrhoea and other food-related health problems will arise. “Higher level officials like Commissioner of Food Safety should make surprise visits to restaurants. Many top restaurants are failing to meet the expected standards. One of the reasons is the fact that these same Food safety officials who are crying foul get their cut from them”, says Murthy. He believes that once the Parliament passes the Bill on Food Safety in this Monsoon Session, all the States will oblige.