The long-awaited modernization of the Food Safety Laboratory at Pathanamthitta has finally become a reality with the establishment of a new state-of-the-art building fully funded by the State Government. The modernized facility was inaugurated here on Tuesday by Health Minister Veena George.
A district-level food testing laboratory was set up here in 1998 based on the 1997 Supreme Court order for testing of offerings and materials used during the Mandalam-Makaravilakku festival. Until recently, it only had facilities for preliminary testing of drinking water and food samples.
The laboratory has now been expanded and upgraded with advanced testing systems at a cost of ₹3 crore. The new facility is equipped with a complex infrastructure spread over three floors. On the ground floor there is a part of receiving and storing samples, an office, a chemical warehouse, a laboratory, a staff room and rooms for food analysis. The first floor includes an instrument room, sample preparation area and staff room, while the second floor offers dedicated spaces for the water laboratory, food laboratory, balance room and microbiology laboratory area.
To boost its operations, the government has sanctioned 10 additional posts, in addition to the existing three, and installed modern equipment to increase testing accuracy and efficiency.
Vice Chairman Chittayam Gopakumar presided over the function.
Published – 04 Nov 2025 20:17 IST
