Food testing lab set to come up at Lam Farm

• The state-of-the-art laboratory will be a boon to consumers as it will check food adulteration

Lam Farm (Guntur): A chemical laboratory for testing food adulteration and chemical residues in vegetables and fruits apart from milk products will be set up on the Lam Farm premises in two acre. The laboratory, which will be completed within a year, will be a great boon to consumers and even exporters of food material.

It will be equipped with the state-of-the-art technology to test samples of food stuffs, both raw and cooked, to determine the presence of chemical residues besides exposing harmful chemicals used, if any, in vegetables and fruits for artificial ripening. The laboratory will also test adulteration of food stuff and materials that are sent to them by food inspectors and various government and private agencies.

Even individual consumers can send test samples if they suspect food adulteration or chemical contents in food material. The State government sanctioned Rs 8 crore for setting up the same and tests can be conducted and services can be provided to all stakeholders including farmers, companies and the consumers of food items and the general public.

Regional Agriculture Research Station Associate director and principal scientist Edara Narayana, speaking to 'The Hans India' said that the presence of such a laboratory in the Lam Farm campus would immensely benefit students of Agriculture Polytechnic and the PG students as they could be taught the dynamics of chemical examination to ensure supply and consumption of quality food, vegetables and fruits.