Food and Drugs Administration- J&K, has seized around 600 kg of paneer valued at around Rs 1.50 lakh during an enforcement operation in Jammu.
Acting on specific information, the Food Safety Team, in coordination with the Jammu Police, 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 without requisite labelling and traceability particulars, including details of the supplier and consignee.
The consignment was accordingly seized by the Food Safety Team, and a legal sample was drawn and forwarded to the designated Food Laboratory for analysis in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
Considering the perishable nature of the commodity and the observed transportation conditions, the seized consignment was subsequently transported to the designated dumping yard of the Jammu Municipal Corporation and approximately 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 ensure compliance with the prescribed requirements relating to safe transportation, temperature control, hygiene, labeling 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 the bill, cash memo or label, as prescribed.
The FDA, J&K, further emphasized that 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, to protect public health and ensure compliance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the regulations made thereunder.
Consumers are requested to report any suspected unsafe or adulterated food product through Toll-Free Helpline No. 104 or email at [email protected]
