Food Safety Department lab gets state-of-the-art analysis equipment

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday inaugurated, through videoconference, state-of-the-art equipment worth ₹8 crore in the food analysis laboratory of the Food Safety Department here.

The Chief Minister inaugurated Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometer, which can be used for analysing the presence of harmful residual pesticides in foodgrains, fruits, vegetables etc. and the antigens in animal protein. The Inductively-coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy can be used for detecting the presence of heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in the food and water.

The Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectroscopy can be used for estimating the presence of pesticides, weedicides and chemical growth promoters, all used by the farmers and the dairy and poultry farmers for increasing the yield.

“The ultra-modern equipments installed in the Food Safety Department laboratory will be a boon to the consumers as these machines can easily detect adulteration in the foodstuff being sold by the restaurants, bakeries and packaged snacks. These equipments will also be useful in detecting the residual chemicals in the foodgrains, fruits, vegetables and animal protein as the growers use the pesticides, weedicides and the antigens to protect their crop and the domestic animals, but cause harmful effects to the consumers. So, these equipment will play effective role in protecting the consumers,” Collector R. Sukumar said.

The Collector asked officials of the laboratory to take samples of greens being raised with sewage water and test these plants for presence of heavy metals.

“Since the presence of heavy metals in the greens would cause serious health issues by affecting kidney and other vital organs, the officials have been instructed to take samples of these leafy plants being nourished with sewage water,” said Dr. Sukumar, who also instructed the lab officials to take samples of the foodstuff and the snacks like chilli chicken, sweets and savoury items, all coloured with artificial colouring agents, to attract the consumers, especially the children.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the additional godown built with 16,000 square feet area at a cost of ₹6 crore to store medicines on Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital premises as additional quantity of medicines cannot be stored in the existing facility near the Government Law College. These storage points will supply the medicines to all government hospitals and primary health centres in the district.

Mayor G. Ramakrishnan, Palayamkottai MLA M. Abdul Wahab, Joint Director of Health Services Latha, District Health Officer Vijayachandran and District Food Safety Officer Pushparaj were present.

After Mr. Stalin inaugurated an additional building with six classrooms in Kadambankulam Government Adi Dravida Higher Secondary School, Nanguneri MLA Ruby R. Manoharan lighted the lamp in the school.