In a determined push to safeguard public health, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has dramatically increased its surveillance across Jammu and Kashmir, carrying out 13,944 routine inspections in 2025—a sweeping action aimed at curbing food adulteration and ensuring every household has access to safe, hygienic food.
FDA Commissioner Smetha Sethi confirmed that the department collected 10,620 surveillance samples, far exceeding the annual target of 7,080. This achievement marks more than 150% of the expected target, a clear testament to the administration’s amplified commitment to consumer protection and food quality.
Beyond routine checks, 1,423 risk-based inspections were conducted across the Union Territory, intensifying scrutiny on food businesses operating in high-risk zones.
To improve compliance, 943 Improvement Notices were issued to Food Business Operators (FBOs) under Section 32 of the FSS Act—substantially higher than the target of 625. The strict enforcement stems from the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006, which mandates science-backed food standards and regulatory oversight to ensure food safety from manufacturing to consumption.
Under civil adjudication (Section 30), 718 prosecutions were launched. Of these, 671 cases were resolved, imposing penalties that totaled ₹84.33 lakh.
Additionally, 21 criminal cases involving unsafe food products were filed. Ten of these resulted in convictions—includes both fines and imprisonment—signaling zero tolerance for food adulteration.
November’s special enforcement drives uncovered concerning trends. A crackdown on ghee adulteration led to the seizure of 80.78 kg of substandard stock. Out of 41 tested samples, 12 failed quality standards, prompting instant prohibition orders against the manufacturers. Relevant information has already been shared with FSSAI and states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat to address the issue at the source.
On a brighter note, the Poly Pack Milk drive showed strong compliance, with only 2 out of 95 samples failing the safety check. Meanwhile, results for 32 packaged drinking water samples are still pending.
Looking ahead, the FDA is working to expand its infrastructure. Proposals have been submitted to establish two cutting-edge food testing laboratories and to procure 10 additional “Food Safety on Wheels” mobile vans, aimed at strengthening surveillance in remote and rural pockets of the region.
