SRINAGAR: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, conducted 175 inspections across the Union Territory as part of an enforcement drive to check compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
According to the department, inspections were carried out in the districts of Jammu, Samba, Udhampur, Reasi, Kathua, Poonch, Rajouri, Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Bandipora, Srinagar, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Shopian and Baramulla.
During the drive, officials collected 142 food samples for laboratory analysis, including 88 samples of prepared food, mainly meat and meat products served in restaurants and hotels, and 54 samples of sweets from manufacturing units and retail outlets to test their quality and safety.
Inspection teams also checked compliance with food safety, hygiene, sanitation and storage standards at the establishments visited.
The department said four improvement notices were issued to Food Business Operators for deficiencies in sanitary and hygienic conditions. Seven Food Business Operators were compounded under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, with penalties amounting to ₹11,000 imposed.
Legal action has also been initiated against Food Business Operators found violating provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed under it, the department said.
The FDA has urged consumers to report suspected cases of unsafe or adulterated food through its toll-free helpline 104 or by email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in.
