Hyderabad, Aug. 10 -- Telangana recorded not a single penalty or conviction for food safety violations in 2025-26, even as 398 of the 3,576 samples tested in the state, 11.1 percent, failed quality checks, according to data placed before the Lok Sabha by the Union Health Ministry on August 7.

The state's enforcement record trails far behind its neighbours. Tamil Nadu tested over 12 times as many samples and still secured 1,359 penalties and 857 convictions. Kerala recorded 1,026 penalties and 330 convictions from 16,746 samples. Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka also posted penalties and convictions in the hundreds despite comparable testing volumes. Telangana's own testing volume was among the lowest of major states, behind even Andhra Prade...