Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Anbumani Ramadoss Friday urged film stars, sportspersons and other celebrities to desist from endorsing soft drinks in the larger interest of public health.

Addressing the inaugural programme of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Central Food Laboratory (CFL) here, he underlined the need for a strong food safety and regulatory mechanism to protect the vast population of the country as well as compete with the international food standards.

He unveiled a Rs.3.7 billion package for modernisation of food and drug laboratories across the country.

Ramadoss announced that the central government would soon come out with an Integrated Food Law merging the present Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA) and repealing several existing laws of the food sector.