BENGALURU, 8 APRIL

Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao has announced that legal action will be taken against companies supplying "unsafe" and "substandard" bottled drinking water. This warning follows a survey by the Food Safety and Drug Administration Department, revealing that only 72 of 255 bottled water samples tested were safe for consumption.

Rao highlighted that of the 255 analyses completed, 95 samples were deemed unsafe—failing microbiological or chemical tests due to the presence of pesticides, chemicals, or bacteria. "We will be taking legal action against all companies supplying these unsafe water bottles," he stated.

As part of an extensive campaign, 296 drinking water samples were collected for analysis, and additional testing is ongoing for various food products. Inspections of 590 hotels and restaurants led to notices issued to 214 establishments for non-compliance with pest control regulations, with 11 fined a total of Rs 115,000.

A total of 1,891 drug samples were analysed recently, resulting in 41 being classified as "Not of Standard Quality." Rao noted that enforcement actions are crucial, stating, "The goal is to raise awareness and ensure that food production quality improves across Karnataka."