SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu Kashmir conducted 519 inspections of street food vendors across the Union Territory over the past week, with enforcement teams focusing on hygiene, food handling and the use of safe utensils and packaging materials.
The inspections were carried out particularly around religious shrines, prominent markets and other high-footfall areas as part of intensified food-safety enforcement, the FDA said.
During the drive, 23 cases were filed under Sections 56 and 58 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, while 17 cases were compounded under Section 69, resulting in fines totalling Rs 21,000.
Separately, as part of the UT-wide enforcement, inspection and awareness campaign, 395 street food vendors were inspected across all districts. The inspections covered personal hygiene of food handlers, cleanliness of vending premises, safe food storage and handling, use of food-grade utensils and packaging, and proper management of cooking oil.
Under this campaign, 38 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the Act, attracting a cumulative fine of Rs 50,500. Another 68 cases were recommended for statutory action before the concerned Adjudicating Authorities, including Additional Deputy Commissioners, based on the nature and gravity of the violations.
Of these, 39 cases were recommended under Section 56, which provides for a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh for unhygienic or insanitary processing or manufacturing of food, while 29 cases were recommended under Section 58, which provides for a penalty of up to Rs 2 lakh for contraventions involving non-food-grade utensils or packaging materials.
Around 130 kg of unsuitable food and snack items were also destroyed in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
Alongside enforcement, the FDA conducted 92 awareness and sensitisation sessions for street food vendors across J&K. The sessions covered personal hygiene, cleanliness, safe food handling and storage, food-grade utensils and packaging, avoidance of newspapers and other non-food-grade materials for wrapping food, unauthorised synthetic colours, prevention of cross-contamination and proper disposal of used cooking oil.
The department also focused on used cooking oil (UCO) management and testing through Digital Oil Testing Meters. A total of 75 cooking-oil samples were tested during the drive, and all were found within the permissible range, with no sample recording Total Polar Compounds (TPC) above the prescribed limit of 25 percent.
The FDA advised street food vendors to comply with prescribed food-safety and hygiene requirements and cooperate with enforcement officials. Consumers have been asked to report suspected unsafe or adulterated food through the toll-free helpline 104 or the department’s designated email address.
