Key Update 

The Food Safety Department of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) seized several meat samples contaminated with banned synthetic colours—carmoisine, tartrazine, and erythrosine—during recent raids. These additives, linked to serious health risks including cancer, violate India’s Food Safety Regulations and are banned in multiple countries.

Officials Conduct Widespread Inspections and Seize Contaminated Products

Officials tested 57 samples from 11 districts and declared four unsafe. They found contamination in popular items like kebabs, rista, goshtaba, momos, fried chicken, raw fish, and paneer collected from Srinagar, Pulwama, Anantnag, and other districts. Across 13 districts, officials carried out 834 inspections, seized 1,677 kg of unsafe meat, and destroyed over 11,000 kg of spoiled food.

FDA Files Cases and Suspends Licenses of Violators

The FDA filed 27 legal cases and imposed fines totalling ₹8.4 million on food business operators. They suspended licenses of nine outlets, including Domino’s Pizza (Anantnag) and Shaun Shahi Biryani. The FDA issued improvement notices to 57 businesses and fined 151 others. In response, the government plans to deploy 10 additional mobile Food Safety units and has requested two new testing labs in Anantnag and Kathua-Samba to enhance surveillance and testing capacity.

Staff Shortages Hinder Effective Enforcement

Food Safety officials report 40 vacant officer positions, which hampers continuous monitoring efforts. The crackdown underscores the urgent need for stronger oversight to safeguard public health in the region.

Source: ETV Bharat