States » EastPosted at: Feb 13 2026 2:49PM


Odisha: Solitary food testing lab caters to over 4 cr people: HC voices concern

Bhubaneswar, Feb 13 (UNI) Expressing concern over the weak infrastructure of food safety mechanism in Odisha, the High Court has summoned Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, and the Secretary, Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department to inform the court about the apparent lack of institutional response in the state.
The single bench of Justice Sanjeeb Kumar Panigrahi, in an order pronounced on Thursday, expressed serious apprehension over the food safety norms. "This court is constrained to note, with deep concern, that there exists only a single food testing laboratory in the entire state, headed by one Chief Food Analyst and assisted by a limited number of analytical chemists. The laboratory currently caters to nearly 4.70 crore population of the state."
Such an arrangement can scarcely be considered commensurate with the statutory obligation cast upon the authorities to ensure food safety and safeguarding public health, the court said. The existing infrastructure appears grossly inadequate to meet the growing demands of effective enforcement, timely analysis, and quality control, Justice Panigrahi stated in the order.
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