SRINAGAR: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has intensified its enforcement drive against food safety violations, conducting 175 inspections and collecting 142 food samples from restaurants, hotels and sweet shops across the Union Territory.
The inspections were carried out in the districts of Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Bandipora, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Shopian and Baramulla to check compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
According to the FDA, the samples collected included 88 prepared food samples, mainly meat and meat products served in restaurants and hotels, and 54 samples of sweets taken from manufacturing units and retail outlets. The samples have been sent for laboratory analysis to assess their quality and safety.
During the inspections, officials also examined hygiene, sanitation, storage and food safety practices at the establishments.
The department issued four improvement notices to food business operators for deficiencies in sanitary and hygienic conditions. Seven food business operators were penalised under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, with fines amounting to Rs 11,000.
The FDA said legal proceedings have also been initiated against operators found violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed under it.
The department has urged consumers to report suspected cases of unsafe or adulterated food through its toll-free helpline or by email, saying public participation is important in maintaining food safety standards across the Union Territory.
