213 inspections carried out, 170 samples of loose milk lifted for testing across 15 districts; three food business operators penalised, five issued improvement notices
BuzzBytes News Desk
Srinagar, Jul 25 (BuzzBytes): The Food and Drugs Administration, Jammu and Kashmir, conducted a focused Union Territory wide special enforcement drive on milk and milk products with a view to ensuring the quality and safety of milk being sold to consumers across the region. During the drive, Food Safety teams conducted 213 inspections of retail milk vendors across various districts and lifted 170 enforcement samples of loose milk for testing of prescribed quality and safety parameters through NABL accredited Food Testing Laboratories. The enforcement samples were lifted from Jammu, Samba, Poonch, Rajouri, Reasi, Udhampur, Kathua, Srinagar, Anantnag, Bandipora, Budgam, Ganderbal, Kupwara, Shopian, Kulgam and Pulwama, with 10 samples of other high risk food commodities also lifted for testing. Milk and milk products, being highly perishable and widely consumed, have been accorded priority under FDA’s enforcement and surveillance activities. During the drive, three Food Business Operators were compounded under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with a penalty of Rs 5,000 imposed for violations, while five Improvement Notices were issued for rectification of deficiencies relating to sanitary and hygienic requirements. The FDA said such focused enforcement and sampling drives will continue across the Union Territory, particularly with respect to high risk food commodities like meat and meat products, sweets and bakery products, and appropriate action will be initiated against operators found violating prescribed standards. Consumers have been advised to remain vigilant while purchasing milk products and to report any suspected instance of unsafe, adulterated or substandard food through the toll free helpline 104 or by email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in.
—(BuzzBytes)
