J&K Food Safety Crackdown: 17 Dairy Units Inspected, 34 Samples Seized for Quality Testing

SRINAGAR, JULY 20 — In a major push toward public health and regulatory compliance, the Food & Drugs Administration (FDA) of Jammu & Kashmir has launched an extensive inspection and sampling drive targeting dairy manufacturing units across the Union Territory. The operations, conducted under the strict provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act (2006), focused heavily on assessing sanitary conditions, equipment cleanliness, storage facilities, and the implementation of Good Hygienic Practices (GHP) among food handlers. Aimed at guaranteeing that consumers receive safe, high-quality milk and milk products, the enforcement drive spanned 11 districts—including Srinagar, Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Pulwama, Anantnag, Kishtwar, Baramulla, Budgam, Bandipore, and Ganderbal.

During the targeted sweep, regulatory officers scrutinized 17 dairy facilities and seized 34 diverse samples of milk and milk products for rigorous laboratory testing. The collected specimens consisted of 14 paneer samples, 10 milk samples, eight dahi samples, one ghee sample, and one ice cream sample, all of which have been dispatched to notified Food Testing Laboratories to verify compliance with national safety benchmarks. Consequently, the FDA issued three official Improvement Notices under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards Act to non-compliant Food Business Operators (FBOs). These operators have been legally directed to rectify identified structural and hygienic deficiencies within a strict, stipulated timeframe. To reinforce these safety measures, authorities have urged consumers to remain vigilant and report any suspected food adulteration or substandard products via the toll-free helpline (104) or through the department’s official email.