JAMMU, Sept 16: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Jammu and Kashmir, in coordination with Jammu Police, has seized and destroyed around 600 kilograms of paneer valued at approximately ₹1.5 lakh during an enforcement drive in Jammu, officials said.
According to the FDA, the action was carried out following specific information, after which a Food Safety Team and police personnel intercepted a passenger sleeper bus arriving from Punjab.
During inspection, officials found around 20 cartons of paneer allegedly being transported without adequate temperature-control arrangements. The consignment also reportedly lacked mandatory labelling and traceability details, including information regarding the supplier and consignee.
Officials said the paneer consignment was seized and a legal sample collected and sent to a designated food laboratory for analysis in accordance with prescribed procedures.
Given the perishable nature of the product and the transportation conditions observed during inspection, the seized consignment was later destroyed at a designated Jammu Municipal Corporation dumping site in the presence of the concerned authorities, the FDA said.
The department advised food business operators dealing in perishable products to comply with regulations relating to safe transportation, temperature control, hygiene, labelling and traceability.
The FDA also referred to provisions of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, which require manufacturers, distributors and dealers supplying food products to vendors to provide the prescribed warranty documentation.
Officials said enforcement and surveillance drives would continue across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly focusing on the handling, transportation and sale of perishable food items and compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Consumers have been urged to report suspected unsafe or adulterated food products through the FDA’s toll-free helpline 104 or its official email address.
