Associated News Bureau

FDA Intensifies Food Safety Drive Ahead of Diwali; 500 Kg of Sweets Destroyed, Four Food Business Registrations Suspended

JAMMU, NOVEMBER 04: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has intensified food safety inspections and enforcement measures across Jammu Division ahead of Diwali, with a special focus on preventing food adulteration and ensuring compliance with prescribed quality and hygiene standards during the festive season. As part of the special festive enforcement-cum-sampling drive, food safety teams conducted inspections at various food business establishments and lifted a total of 56 samples, including sweets, paneer, khoya, savouries and other food commodities. During the drive, approximately 500 kilograms of sweets, including Rasgulla, with an estimated market value of ₹79,500, were destroyed after being found unfit for human consumption, preventing their sale in the market. The department also initiated legal proceedings against food business operators found violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, particularly the sanitary and hygienic requirements prescribed under Schedule IV of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011. As part of the enforcement action, two food business licences and two registrations were suspended for violations of prescribed food safety norms. Furthermore, 11 challans were recommended under Section 56 of the Act, which provides for a penalty of up to ₹1 lakh for unhygienic or unsanitary food processing and manufacturing. Four cases were also compounded. The special enforcement drive covered Jammu Municipal Limits, Jammu Rural, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch districts. The inspection teams focused on assessing the quality and safety of festive food products, maintaining hygienic conditions at food establishments and preventing the sale of adulterated or substandard food items. Reiterating its commitment to safeguarding public health, the FDA urged food business operators to strictly comply with food safety regulations, maintain proper hygiene and ensure that only safe and wholesome food products are offered for sale. Consumers have also been advised to purchase sweets and other food items exclusively from licensed establishments, carefully check product labels and report any suspected cases of food adulteration to the concerned Food Safety authorities. The department said the enforcement measures are aimed at ensuring food safety and protecting consumers during the festive season. ANB