Srinagar, Oct 4: The J&K Commissioner of Food Safety Saturday issued an order that prohibits the manufacture, storage, distribution, transportation, and sale of frozen and chilled meat products that fail to meet safety standards.
The detailed order comes two months after the Food Safety Department discovered and destroyed 1200 kg of substandard packaged meat, the seizure proving to be the tip of an iceberg.
The ‘Prohibitory Order’ states that adequate grounds exist after inspection findings that a “health risk condition” exists across J&K, requiring immediate preventive action in the interest of public health.
It spells out ongoing violations uncovered during recent inspections.
Despite existing regulations under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, widespread violations and overall unacceptable conditions of frozen meat and meat products have been reported by the department.
Over the past two months, large quantities of rotten, decomposed, and unlabeled meat have been seized and destroyed across Kashmir and Jammu divisions.
The ban includes improper labeling, storage temperatures, and shelf-life guidelines.
Section 30 of the FSSAI 2006 empowers the commissioner to prohibit hazardous practices in the interest of public safety.
The department said that the ban has been issued to ensure safer meat options for people of J&K.
With the dint of the order, meat product that is not labeled properly, not stored in the safe and specified temperature conditions, and do not having detailed source and destination information can be confiscated at the entry points into J&K.
The meat packages are also required to have an FSSAI license number and FSSAI logo.
It must also have the mandatory information on the animal that is the source of the meat: goat, chicken, and buffalo.
Frozen meat must be kept at minus 18 degrees Celsius or below to prevent microbial growth, and chilled meat must be stored at 0 to 4 degrees Celsius for short-term handling.
In addition, no meat can be sold beyond 12 months from its freezing date.
Online sellers must ensure that their products have at least 70 percent of their shelf life remaining.
All meat and meat products must have a prominent non-vegetarian sign on the package.
The prohibitory order has been communicated to various departments that form the core of ensuring compliance with food safety.
The department officials said that Police and other officials who check incoming goods and produce at entry points can also check for the violations listed in the prohibitory order and take necessary action.
The food business operators, like restaurants and consumers, have been advised to stay vigilant and check their meat supply before purchase.
“If the meat package lacks any of the information that is mandatory as per FSSAI 2006, it is unfit for consumption. Moreover, the storage and transport conditions of meats must also be inspected regularly by the FBOs,” the officials said.
