Hyderabad City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar on Wednesday issued a strong warning against food adulteration, stating that any attempt to compromise public health would invite stringent legal action. He said the city police would no longer treat food adulteration as a minor offence and would deal with it as a serious crime affecting human lives.

Chairing a preparatory meeting with senior Food Safety Department officials at the TGICC in Banjara Hills, the Commissioner announced that special joint teams of police and food safety officers would be deployed to curb the menace. The focus, he said, would not be limited to roadside vendors but would extend to manufacturers, storage units and supply chains that serve as the root of adulteration.          

Sajjanar observed that food adulteration directly endangers public health and would be treated on par with an attempt to murder. To ensure effective enforcement, a detailed Standard Operating Procedure will be formulated and implemented. The SOP will clearly define procedures for inspections, sample collection, seizures, arrests and prosecution, ensuring there are no legal loopholes during enforcement.

The Police Commissioner reviewed field-level challenges with officials and invited suggestions to strengthen coordination between departments. He assured that all inspections and legal actions would be carried out in a legally sound and transparent manner to ensure strong cases against offenders.

Warning traders and business owners, Sajjanar said strict adherence to quality standards is mandatory. Repeat offenders will face permanent cancellation of their business licences, and in serious cases, the Preventive Detention Act may also be invoked against food adulteration networks.

To encourage public participation, the Commissioner said a dedicated WhatsApp number or toll-free helpline would soon be launched for citizens to report suspected food adulteration. He assured that the identity of informants would be kept strictly confidential.

Senior police officers and food safety officials from across the city attended the meeting.