Srinagar, Mar 29: Food Safety Kashmir, Drugs, and Food Control Organization has penalized 192 shopkeepers and Food Business Operators (FBOs) for violating food safety norms during Ramadan, collecting Rs 2,07,000 in fines, officials said.
Mufti Umar, Food Safety Officer (HQ) in the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Food Safety Kashmir, said that 834 inspections were conducted across the valley during the holy month to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.
“Our officers were on the ground throughout Ramadan to ensure that food products met quality and hygiene standards,” he said.
During the inspections, Mobile Food Testing Vans (MFTVs) were deployed, and 335 food samples were analyzed on the spot. Besides, 645 samples were sent to the Food Testing Laboratory for further analysis.
The officer further said that 1,775 kg of fruits, vegetables, milk, spices, and maida were voluntarily destroyed by shopkeepers after being deemed unfit for consump-tion by Food Safety Officers.
Apart from enforcement actions, the department also focused on awareness and training programs. 26 training camps were conducted across Kashmir using MFTVs to educate food business operators about hygiene and safety standards, he added.
Meanwhile, Firdous Ahmad, State Nodal Officer, FDA J&K said that the Department of Food Safety is ensuring the availability of safe and wholesome food to the public by monitoring food safety and quality through a systematic approach Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspections and Sampling (FoSCoRIS) and takes ap-propriate legal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
He said that any consumer having a grievance regarding the quality and safety of food may register complaints at Toll-Free Number 104 or through a dedicated Food Safety Connect App for redressal.
