Srinagar, Dec 22: The Food Safety Division of the Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drug Control Organisation has directed dairy units across the Union Territory to ensure the sale of adulteration-free milk and milk products and to provide on-the-spot testing facilities for consumers at milk dispensing units and kiosks.
The directive follows a nationwide enforcement drive launched last week by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to curb adulteration and misbranding of milk and milk products. Items such as milk, paneer, ghee and khoya have come under heightened scrutiny after multiple reports of unsafe and fake dairy products from several states, including Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the drive, states and Union Territories have been asked to intensify inspections of both licensed and unlicensed dairy units, collect samples for laboratory testing, verify licences and trace sources of adulteration. The FSSAI has also ordered strict action, including seizure of unsafe products, cancellation of licences, closure of illegal units, product recalls and destruction of adulterated goods, along with real-time reporting and stronger inter-state coordination.
Issued by Commissioner Food and Drug Administration Smita Sethi, the advisory urges Food Business Operators selling milk and milk products through vending machines, kiosks or similar systems to strictly adhere to food safety standards and fair trade practices in the interest of public health. To prevent adulteration, dairy units have been mandated to keep FSSAI-approved rapid test kits at vending and kiosk locations to detect common adulterants. “This will help ensure food safety, build consumer trust, promote transparency and support a strong food safety culture in the country,” the FDA said.
The advisory further directs dairy units to source the test kits through the FSSAI website and display simple instructions on their use at vending points, allowing consumers to test milk themselves. Units may also deploy trained staff to demonstrate the testing process and ensure that kits are properly stored and within their validity period. Regular monitoring and mandatory record-keeping of test results and kit usage have also been ordered.
