SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has directed hotels, restaurants, cafes, dhabas, sweet shops, bakeries, caterers and other food business operators across Jammu and Kashmir to prominently display food safety information boards and clearly mention the type of meat used in food preparations.
The advisory issued by the FDA said the directions are in line with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed under it, which place a statutory responsibility on food business operators to ensure that food sold to consumers is safe, properly represented and not misleading.
As per the advisory, restaurants are required to display a food safety display board at a prominent place in their establishments. Food businesses are also required to display separate lists of food items prepared using ghee, edible oil, vanaspati and other edible fats.
The FDA said every food business operator selling cooked or prepared food must also display a notice indicating the nature of food articles being offered for sale.
The advisory directed establishments to prominently display details including their FSSAI licence number and customer care number on the Food Safety Information Board.
The FDA has further asked all food businesses serving meat or meat products to clearly specify the type of meat used in each preparation.
It said the disclosure should clearly mention whether a dish contains mutton, beef, chicken, fish or any other specific type of meat and should be made on menu cards, food safety information boards and display counters or menu displays, wherever applicable.
The department has advised food businesses to avoid generic descriptions such as “Meat Curry”, “Meat Biryani”, “Meat Kebab” or “Non-Vegetarian” without specifying the actual type of meat used.
The information, it said, must be accurate, legible, clearly visible to consumers and updated at all times to enable them to make informed choices.
The FDA has also directed Designated Officers and Food Safety Officers to circulate the advisory among food business operators in their respective jurisdictions and verify compliance during inspections carried out under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The department warned that non-compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act, rules and regulations would invite appropriate action in accordance with law.
