Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir carried out nearly 1,000surprise inspections and lifted 62 samples of different food items forscreening since the beginning of this month, an official spokesperson said onSunday.
The special drive by the Food Safety Wing of Food and DrugsAdministration Department was necessitated amidst growing concern that someunscrupulous traders can take advantage of the lockdown imposed by thegovernment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.
“During the special drive, commenced on May 1, theenforcement staff carried out 996 inspections, lifted 62 samples of differentfood items like mustard oil, til oil, spices, milk and dates, and destroyedfood items, which included vegetables, fruits, milk amounting to Rs25,000,” the spokesperson said.
He said four Food Business Operators (FBOs) were also finedfor violating the Food Safety and Standards(FSS) Act.
The drive also led to seizure of560 kg ghee and 91 kg ofspices after lifting statutory samples that have been sent to the Food TestingLaboratory for ascertaining the quality of the items, the spokesperson said.
In April, the Food Testing Laboratory carried out analysisof 147 samples, out of which 46 have been declared substandard or misbranded,he said, adding that action against the concerned FBOs would be initiated asper the procedure laid down under the FSS Act.
He said the exercise was carried out to ensure availabilityof safe and wholesome food to the end user.
Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration,Shakeel-Ur-Rehman, had issued instructions to the enforcement staff to conductinspections of all FBOs in the supply chain to ensure strict compliance of theguidelines issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)practices during COVID-19.