Crackdown on adulteration in Jammu
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 30: In a decisive effort to combat food adulteration and safeguard consumer health, the Food Safety Department of Jammu and Kashmir has imposed fines totalling Rs 62.21 lakh under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, over the past eight months.
“Since April 2024, the Drugs and Food Control Organization (DFCO) Jammu has conducted 5,001 inspections across the Jammu division, lifting 2,450 legal samples and 4,991 surveillance samples for testing,” said an officer of Food Safety Department. Of these, 189 and 164 samples, respectively, were found non-compliant with safety standards. Mobile Food Testing Vans (MFTVs) have also played a pivotal role, analyzing 6,449 on-site samples, of which 74 were identified as substandard.
As part of its enforcement actions, the Department imposed Rs 11.11 lakh in on-the-spot fines on 586 violators, while adjudication proceedings led to penalties amounting to Rs 47.2 lakh from 347 resolved cases. Additionally, 16 criminal cases were decided in courts, resulting in Rs 4 lakh in fines.
Meanwhile, in a significant operation conducted today at Satwari Chowk (Jammu), inspections of 40 milk vendors revealed five substandard samples, which have been sent for further analysis. Officials also destroyed large quantities of spoiled fruits, perished vegetables, and other unfit food items during inspections and warned vendors against unsafe practices, including the repeated use of cooked oil, adhering to the RUCO (Recycling Used Cooking Oil) initiative by FSSAI.
The Commissioner of the FSD J&K reiterated the Department’s commitment to public health and called for active public cooperation to uphold food safety standards. He affirmed the Department’s resolve to ensure a safe and hygienic food environment across the region, highlighting the importance of collective efforts in achieving this goal.
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