Bathinda, March 22-In a significant step toward ensuring food quality and safety, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries and Railways, Shri Ravneet Singh Bittu, inaugurated a state-of-the-art Food Testing Laboratory at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, on Saturday.

The laboratory, established under the Central Quality Control/Food Testing Laboratories Scheme of the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI), is designed to certify food items, detect adulteration, and strengthen the food processing ecosystem.

Mr. Bittu said the inauguration of the Food Testing Laboratory at MRSPTU marks a milestone in Punjab’s food processing journey, offering high-end testing facilities and supporting a healthier, safer food ecosystem for consumers and stakeholders alike.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by Shri Ranjit Singh, IAS, Joint Secretary (MoFPI); Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kansal, Vice Chancellor of MRSPTU; Dr. Gurinder Pal Singh Brar, Registrar; Dr. Sanjiv Aggarwal, Campus Director; and Dr. Kawaljit Singh Sandhu, Head of Food Science and Technology, along with deans, directors, faculty, and staff of the university.

Prof. (Dr.) Sandeep Kansal, Vice Chancellor, emphasized that the lab is equipped with advanced instruments, including Gas Chromatography, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. These tools will enable precise analysis of pesticides, heavy metals, vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids in raw and processed foods.