Telangana currently has around 1.41 lakh food business entities, with nearly 80% concentrated in urban areas including Hyderabad, reflecting the growing demand for ready-to-eat and processed food.
However, this surge is being exploited through widespread adulteration and the use of substandard ingredients, Health Minister C. Damodar Raja Narasimha cautioned.
The Minister was speaking after flagging off a Food Safety Awareness Walkathon at Jalavihar in Hyderabad on Monday (April 6, 2026) which saw participation from around 1,000 students and youth. Highlighting changing consumption patterns, the Minister said rapid urbanisation and busy lifestyles have led to a decline in home-cooked meals, resulting in increased dependence on restaurants and processed food. “This shift has significantly expanded the food industry, but has also created opportunities for malpractice,” he added.
He noted that adulteration now affects a wide range of essential food items, including salt, pulses, tamarind, sugar, and tea leaves. In addition, some food establishments are using inferior oils and low-quality ingredients, posing serious health risks to consumers.
“Consumption of such food is contributing to gastrointestinal disorders in the short term and increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, kidney ailments, and obesity over time. Unhealthy dietary habits are a major driver of the rising burden of non-communicable diseases in Telangana, including in Hyderabad,” he added.
