Jammu, Sep 16 (GNS): Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) J&K in coordination with Jammu Police seized and destroyed around 600 kg of paneer during an enforcement operation in Jammu.
In a handout to GNS, the FDA said that acting on specific information, the Food Safety Team Jammu along with Jammu Police intercepted a passenger sleeper bus arriving from Punjab. During inspection, around 20 cartons of paneer valued at Rs 1.50 lakh were found being transported without adequate temperature-control arrangements and without requisite labelling and traceability particulars including details of supplier and consignee.
The consignment was seized and a legal sample was drawn and forwarded to the designated Food Laboratory for analysis as per prescribed procedure.
“Considering the perishable nature of the commodity and the observed transportation conditions, the seized consignment was transported to the designated dumping yard of Jammu Municipal Corporation and approximately 600 kg of paneer was disposed of / destroyed as per prescribed procedure in presence of concerned authorities,” the official said.
FDA J&K reiterated that food business operators dealing in perishable commodities must ensure compliance with prescribed requirements relating to safe transportation, temperature control, hygiene, labelling and traceability.
Further, as stipulated under Regulation 2.1.14(2) of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011, every manufacturer, distributor or dealer selling an article of food to a vendor is required to provide a warranty in Form E, either separately or through bill, cash memo or label, as prescribed.
The department emphasized that strict enforcement and surveillance will continue across the Union Territory with particular focus on safe handling, transportation and sale of perishable food products to protect public health and ensure compliance with Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Consumers have been requested to report any suspected unsafe or adulterated food product through Toll-Free Helpline No. 104 or email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in(GNS).
