SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has conducted 276 inspections and collected 132 food samples across the Union Territory during a two-day festive enforcement drive ahead of Diwali, while destroying 800 kg of sweets worth Rs 1.44 lakh in Jammu and Kathua districts over unhygienic processing conditions.
The enforcement drive was carried out across all districts to ensure the availability of safe, hygienic and quality food products during the festive season.
According to the FDA, 34 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with fines totalling Rs 39,000 realised.
The department also recommended 13 cases for legal action under Sections 56 and 58 of the Act for violations involving unhygienic and insanitary conditions in food processing and handling.
In addition, two food business licences were suspended for violations of licence conditions, while 14 Improvement Notices were issued under Section 32 of the Act, directing the concerned food business operators to rectify identified deficiencies within the prescribed period.
The 800 kg of sweets destroyed in Jammu and Kathua districts were found to have been processed under poor sanitary and unhygienic conditions, the FDA said.
The department has urged consumers to purchase food products only from licensed or registered food business operators and check the labelling, manufacturing and expiry dates of packaged items.
It has also appealed to the public to report suspected food adulteration or violations of food safety standards to the concerned authorities.
