Food safety takes a hit as all officer posts lying vacant

THE food safety department in Puducherry has come to a standstill due to a severe staff shortage, raising concerns about the hygiene of food served across the Union Territory.

- DEBJANI DUTTA @Puducherry

The department currently has no Food Safety Officers (FSOs) or support staff. The only person handling operations is Dr Balakrishnan, the Designated Officer (DO), who is serving on deputation from the Food and Drugs Testing Laboratory (FDTL).

Of the eight sanctioned FSO posts, all are vacant. The last two FSOs, Dhanaraj and Ravichandran, retired in 2021 and 2024 respectively, and have not been replaced.