KMC Deploys Mobile Food Testing Lab to Inspect Over Two Dozen Food Items in Kathmandu

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has begun on-site inspections of food quality using its newly operational mobile food testing laboratory. In collaboration with the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, KMC is currently examining more than 24 different food items, including fruits, vegetables, and other consumables sourced from various establishments across the city.

According to Bharati Adhikari, a food technician at KMC, the mobile lab was first deployed to test food quality at the canteens of Paropakar Maternity and Women’s Hospital and Norvic Hospital in Thapathali. The initiative aims to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety standards in places where food is prepared and served.

Under a formal agreement between KMC and the Department, joint inspection teams are now conducting field-based food hygiene assessments. They are also testing samples on-site to provide immediate results.

The mobile lab is equipped with advanced tools including a pesticide residue detection device for fruits and vegetables, a milk adulteration testing kit, a lactometer, a water adulteration kit, and a pH meter. These instruments enable quick and accurate evaluations of product quality directly from the market.

Shree Ram Neupane, Food Quality Rest Officer at the Department, stated that the mobile lab is designed to provide real-time data, enhancing KMC’s ability to monitor and regulate food services effectively. The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen public health by ensuring the safety and purity of food items available to Kathmandu residents.