November 6: The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, has intensified its festive food safety enforcement drive across all districts ahead of Diwali, with 800 kg of sweets destroyed in Jammu and Kathua after being found processed under unhygienic conditions.The two-day enforcement campaign was conducted to ensure the availability of safe, hygienic and quality food products during the festive season.According to officials, the drive resulted in 276 inspections across various food establishments, while 132 food samples were collected for laboratory analysis.During the operation, 34 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, with a total fine of Rs 39,000 imposed.Additionally, 13 cases were recommended for legal action under Sections 56 and 58 of the Act for violations involving unhygienic and insanitary food processing and handling conditions.The FDA also suspended two food business licences for violations of licensing conditions and issued 14 Improvement Notices under Section 32, directing food business operators to address identified deficiencies within the stipulated period.The destroyed sweets, valued at approximately Rs 1.44 lakh, were found to have been processed under poor sanitary and unhygienic conditions.The FDA has urged consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing food items during the festive season and buy products only from licensed or registered food business operators.Consumers have also been advised to check the labelling, manufacturing and expiry dates of packaged food products and report suspected food adulteration or violations of food safety norms to the concerned authorities.
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