Unhealthy food, adulteration driving rise in diabetes and heart diseases: Telangana Health Minister

Hyderabad: Unhealthy food habits and rising adulteration are driving a surge in lifestyle diseases across Telangana, Health Minister Damodar Raja Narasimha said on Monday, as he flagged off a Food Safety Awareness Walkathon in the city.

Over 1,000 students and youth participated in the rally from Jal Vihar to HMDA Grounds near IMAX, aimed at promoting safe and hygienic food practices.

Unhealthy food driving surge in lifestyle diseases

Addressing the gathering, the Minister warned that increasing dependence on processed and outside food due to urban lifestyles is contributing to a sharp rise in non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart ailments, kidney disorders and obesity.

He said adulteration of essential food items, including salt, pulses, tamarind, sugar, tea powder and edible oils, is further aggravating health risks, leading to both immediate and long-term complications.

Food industry growth raises safety concerns

Raja Narasimha noted that Telangana has around 1.41 lakh food business establishments, with nearly 80 per cent located in urban areas. While the sector supports employment and economic growth, he said it also presents growing challenges in maintaining food safety standards.

‘11,000 inspections in two years’

Reaffirming a zero-tolerance approach, the Minister said over 11,000 inspections have been carried out in the past two years, with strict action taken against violators. Enforcement drives will be intensified further to curb malpractice.

24 new food inspectors appointed

To strengthen monitoring, the government has appointed 24 new food inspectors and deployed five mobile food testing laboratories for on-the-spot checks.

New labs, stronger enforcement system planned

The state will establish three new regional food testing laboratories in Nizamabad, Hanmakonda and Mahabubnagar for Rs 15 crore to boost testing capacity.

The Minister also said a dedicated food safety enforcement mechanism, on the lines of the EAGLE system used in drug control, is being planned to ensure stricter action against offenders.

‘Zero compromise’ on food quality

He reiterated that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed officials to ensure there is no compromise on food quality and public health, stressing that food safety is a shared responsibility of the government, businesses and consumers.

Call to ‘Eat Right, Stay Healthy’

Urging citizens to adopt healthier lifestyles, the Minister appealed to the public to be mindful of their food choices and hygiene practices.

“Eat Right – Stay Healthy,” he said, calling for collective efforts to build a healthier Telangana.