SRINAGAR: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has seized more than 2,500 litres of ghee after four brands were declared unsafe by the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, while a separate action in Srinagar led to the seizure of 2,600 kg of frozen meat over alleged labelling violations and unhygienic storage.
The FDA said enforcement action was initiated after laboratory reports declared samples of Dairy Mohan, Apna Dairy Milk, Sahi Taj and Milk Bite ghee unsafe.
In Anantnag, the Designated Officer, Food Safety, seized 1,250 litres of ghee from the affected batches, valued at around Rs 4.88 lakh. A prohibition order was also issued under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, barring the sale and distribution of the identified batches.
The prohibition was imposed under Section 36(3)(b) read with Section 18(1)(f) of the Act.
Meanwhile, Food Safety teams in the Jammu division inspected establishments and collected three additional samples of the affected ghee brands. The samples were sent to NABL-accredited laboratories for testing of quality and safety parameters.
During these inspections, another 1,277 litres of ghee, worth approximately Rs 4.97 lakh, were seized pending laboratory reports.
In a separate operation in Srinagar, the Food Safety team inspected seven establishments dealing in meat and meat products and seized 2,600 kg of frozen meat valued at around Rs 5.98 lakh from an establishment at Bubghair, Kawadara.
According to the FDA, the meat was found to be misleading because the contents of the package did not match the declarations on its label, in violation of food labelling requirements. The product was also found to have been stored under unsanitary conditions.
A complaint has subsequently been filed before the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, who is the Adjudicating Officer, under Section 61 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, for furnishing false or misleading information or declarations, and under Section 56 for storing food under unhygienic or unsanitary conditions.
Section 61 carries a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh, while Section 56 provides for a penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh.
The FDA has advised consumers to remain vigilant and report the sale or availability of the prohibited ghee batches, or any suspected unsafe, adulterated or misbranded food, through the toll-free helpline 104 or by email at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
