Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Nov 19: The High Court today sought response from amicus to the status report filed by Food Safety Commissioner about steps taken by the Government to tackle food adulteration in the State.
The Division Bench of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey and Justice Sanjeev Kumar while hearing a Public Interest Litigation against the food adulteration asked the amicus to the PIL to respond the status report of FSC within week’s period in which he has mentioned about the steps taken to tackle the food adulteration.
It is Food Safety Commissioner J&K who in his latest report submitted before court states that 2371 food samples have been tested during the current financial year in 21 districts of the State wherein 637 samples were found to be of substandard quality and 1734 food samples were found of standard quality.
“…17134 inspections were carried out in the current year and registered food establishments were found as 82305.The number of prosecutions launched are 654 in which civil are 403 and criminal 7 further 466 cases have been decided and penalty amount of rupees 45,25,700 was imposed upon the defaulters”, FSC’s report read.
So far as awareness among the public with regard to adulterated and contaminated food FSC submitted that during the current year 131 awareness programmes were conducted and 244 street vendors were imparted training for food hygiene, food handling and maintaining sanitary conditions of their carts.
It was informed to Court through the report that on 16 October,2018 on World Food Day the Food Safety Department of J&K in collaboration with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has flagged off SWASTH BHARAT ABHIYAN from Leh to different parts of the State to create awareness among people with respect to food borne illness and dietary deficiencies.
Court was also informed that Food Safety Department has published 10 advisories in local print media for generating awareness among masses with regard to food safety at home, food safety for flood affected areas, food colours, food safety through refrigeration, prohibition of newspapers as food packaging material, advisory on junk foods, advisory on water and edible ice, advisory on healthy life styles and general advisories in do’s and don’ts.
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