SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K, in coordination with Jammu Police, has seized and subsequently destroyed around 600 kg of paneer worth approximately Rs 1.50 lakh during an enforcement operation in Jammu.
Acting on specific information, the Food Safety Team, Jammu, intercepted a passenger sleeper bus arriving from Punjab and found around 20 cartons of paneer being transported without adequate temperature-control arrangements.
The consignment also lacked requisite labelling and traceability particulars, including details of the supplier and consignee, the FDA said.
The paneer was seized and a legal sample was drawn and sent to the designated Food Laboratory for analysis as per the prescribed procedure.
Considering the perishable nature of the commodity and the transportation conditions observed, the seized consignment was taken to the designated dumping yard of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, where around 600 kg of paneer was disposed of and destroyed in the presence of the concerned authorities.
The FDA said food business operators dealing in perishable commodities are required to comply with prescribed requirements concerning safe transportation, temperature control, hygiene, labelling and traceability.
It also referred to Regulation 2.1.14(2) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, under which every manufacturer, distributor or dealer selling food to a vendor is required to provide a warranty in Form E, either separately or through the bill, cash memo or label, as prescribed.
The FDA said enforcement and surveillance of food commodities would continue across Jammu and Kashmir, with particular focus on the safe handling, transportation and sale of perishable food products and compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and regulations framed under it.
Consumers have been asked to report suspected unsafe or adulterated food products through the toll-free helpline 104 or by email at [email protected].
