Srinagar, Oct 6 (JKNS): The Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), J&K has intensified its UT-wide enforcement and awareness drive among street food vendors, inspecting 395 vendors across all districts and initiating action against violations related to food hygiene, sanitation, safe handling and use of food-grade materials.
As per news agency JKNS, FDA, J&K Conducted enforcement, inspection and awareness activities among street food vendors across all districts with the objective of strengthening compliance with food safety standards and ensuring the availability of safe, hygienic and wholesome food to consumers. As part of the UT-wide drive, 395 street food vendors were inspected across all the districts.
The inspections focused on personal hygiene of food handlers, cleanliness and sanitary conditions of vending premises, safe handling and storage of food, use of food-grade utensils and packaging materials, proper management of cooking oil .
During the enforcement drive, 38 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, resulting in a cumulative fine of ₹50,500.
In addition, 68 cases were recommended for appropriate statutory action before the concerned Adjudicating Authorities (Additional Deputy Commissioners) of the concerned districts, based on the nature and gravity of the violations detected, under the relevant provisions of the Act, including 39 cases under Section 56, which provides for a penalty of up to ₹1,00,000 for unhygienic or insanitary processing or manufacturing of food and 29 cases under Section 58, which provides for a penalty of up to ₹2,00,000 for contraventions for using non-food grade utensils/packaging materials. Approximately 130 kg of unsuitable food/snack articles were also destroyed in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
Alongside enforcement, substantial emphasis on education, awareness and sensitization of street food vendors. A total of 92 awareness and sensitization sessions were conducted across the Union Territory.
During these sessions, vendors were sensitized about personal hygiene, cleanliness of vending premises, safe food handling and storage practices, use of food-grade utensils and packaging materials, avoidance of non-food-grade materials and newspapers for wrapping food, prohibition of unauthorized synthetic food colours, prevention of cross-contamination and proper management and disposal of used cooking oil.
Special emphasis was laid on Used Cooking Oil (UCO) management and testing through Digital Oil Testing Meters. During the drive, 75 samples of cooking oil were tested, and all 75 samples were found within the permissible range, with no instance of Total Polar Compounds (TPC) exceeding the prescribed limit of 25% reported during the drive. The initiative is aimed at promoting responsible cooking-oil management and discouraging the repeated use of degraded cooking oil by food vendors.
It is pertinent to mention that, keeping in view the importance of street food safety and the large number of consumers associated with street food establishments, the Food Safety Department intensified enforcement and inspection activities during the past one week. Accordingly, 519 inspections of street food vendors were conducted across the Union Territory, particularly in the vicinity of religious shrines, prominent markets and other high-footfall areas.
During these inspections, 23 cases were filed under Sections 56 and 58 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, while 17 cases were compounded under Section 69 of the Act, resulting in the imposition of a total fine of ₹21,000.
The FDA, J&K reiterated that street food vendors constitute an important component of the food supply chain and provide a wide variety of local and traditional food items to consumers.
The street Food Vendors were advised to proactively comply with the prescribed food safety and hygiene requirements and extend cooperation to enforcement officials during inspections and awareness activities. (JKNS)
