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Srinagar, Oct 28: The Jammu and Kashmir government has imposed an immediate ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, and transportation of loose paneer containing foreign fat from neighbouring states after laboratory tests confirmed adulteration and potential health risks.
An order issued by Smita Sethi, Commissioner of Food Safety, the prohibition has been enforced under Section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, citing serious threats to public health.
The move follows seizures of large quantities of loose paneer consignments transported under unsanitary, non-refrigerated conditions and lacking proper invoices or warranty declarations.
The order states that samples lifted during enforcement drives tested positive for Beta-Sitosterol at the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad an indicator of vegetable or foreign fat content rendering the product “unsafe” under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The Commissioner added that such adulteration directly violates the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, which prohibit the inclusion of non-dairy fat in paneer.
She said the measure was necessary to protect consumers from unsafe food and maintain fair practices in food trade. All Food Business Operators must ensure compliance with the Act and related regulations at all stages of production, import, distribution, and sale,” the order reads.
Authorities have been directed to strictly enforce the ban across Jammu and Kashmir. The prohibition will remain in force until further orders or until the administration is satisfied that the conditions posing health risks have been eliminated.( KNS)
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