Jammu, Sep 16 (JKNS): The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K, in coordination with Jammu Police, seized and subsequently destroyed around 600 kg of paneer during an enforcement operation in Jammu, officials said.
Details available with news agency JKNS stated that, acting on specific information, the Food Safety Team, Jammu, intercepted a passenger sleeper bus arriving from Punjab.
During inspection, around 20 cartons of paneer were found being transported without adequate temperature-control arrangements and requisite labelling and traceability particulars, including details of the supplier and consignee.
The consignment, valued at around ₹1.50 lakh, was seized by the Food Safety Team, while a legal sample was drawn and forwarded to the designated Food Laboratory for analysis as per the prescribed procedure.
Considering the perishable nature of the commodity and the transportation conditions, the seized consignment was subsequently taken to the designated dumping yard of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, where around 600 kg of paneer was disposed of/destroyed as per the prescribed procedure in the presence of the concerned authorities.
The FDA, J&K, reiterated that food business operators dealing in perishable food commodities are required to comply with prescribed requirements relating to safe transportation, temperature control, hygiene, labelling and traceability.
The department further said that, 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 the bill, cash memo or label, as prescribed.
The FDA, J&K, said strict enforcement and surveillance of food commodities will continue across the Union Territory, with particular focus on the safe handling, transportation and sale of perishable food products.
Consumers have been requested to report any suspected unsafe or adulterated food product through the toll-free helpline 104 or via email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in. (JKNS)