In a decisive push to combat food adulteration and ensure cleaner, safer, and more trustworthy food across Jammu and Kashmir, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has completed 13,944 routine inspections in 2025—a remarkable leap that has already resulted in case registrations, prosecutions, and penalties against offending businesses.
FDA Commissioner Smetha Sethi shared that officials collected 10,620 surveillance samples this year, significantly surpassing the annual target of 7,080. The department’s performance stands at over 150% of the set goal, a major rise from last year and a clear indicator of its strengthened commitment to consumer safety.
Alongside routine checks, food safety officers carried out 1,423 risk-based inspections across the Union Territory. These targeted inspections aim to identify high-risk areas and take swift corrective measures before unsafe food reaches consumers.
To push food businesses towards stricter hygiene and infrastructure standards, the FDA issued 943 Improvement Notices under Section 32 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act—well above the target of 625. The FSS Act, 2006 empowers the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to define science-backed food standards and regulate every step—from manufacturing and storage to sale and import—so citizens have access to safe, wholesome food.
Under civil adjudication (Section 30), the FDA launched 718 prosecutions, of which 671 cases have already been settled, resulting in penalties totaling ₹84.33 lakh. In addition, 21 criminal cases involving unsafe food were filed, with 10 resulting in convictions, including fines and imprisonment.
Commissioner Sethi also highlighted targeted enforcement drives conducted in November. A crackdown on ghee led to the seizure of 80.78 kg of adulterated stock. Out of 41 samples tested, 12 failed quality checks, prompting prohibition orders against the manufacturers. The FDA has also notified FSSAI and the concerned states—Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Gujarat—to take action at the source.
In the Poly Pack Milk drive, 95 samples were tested, with only two failing, indicating strong compliance in this category. Results for 32 samples of packaged drinking water are expected soon.
Looking ahead, the FDA is gearing up to expand its infrastructure. Proposals are already submitted for two new state-of-the-art food testing laboratories and the procurement of 10 additional “Food Safety on Wheels” mobile vans, which will strengthen surveillance and help reach underserved rural regions.
This intensified action is more than a routine update—it’s a reminder of how deeply food safety affects every home, every meal, and every life. Efforts like these protect families, strengthen trust, and safeguard the health of millions. And in the end, safe food isn’t just a regulation—it’s a human right.
