Jammu & Kashmir Initiates Comprehensive Milk Safety Inspections

The Food Safety Department of Jammu and Kashmir has commenced an extensive enforcement and sampling operation targeting milk vendors and dairy distributors in Rajouri town. This initiative, directed by Commissioner Khalid Jahangir, responds to increasing public complaints regarding substandard milk products.

A social media video highlighting spoilage issues prompted the department to undertake this multi-point inspection. The inspections, led by Assistant Commissioner Tariq Mahmood and Food Safety Officer Manoj Kumar, involved surprise visits to processing facilities and retail outlets.

During the operation, authorities collected six statutory samples of liquid milk and dairy products under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. These samples were sent to a NABL-accredited laboratory in Ghaziabad for advanced analysis. The laboratory will look for synthetic adulterants, prohibited preservatives, and microbiological contamination.

If violations are confirmed, legal actions will be pursued. The department has announced that this local surveillance will continue for at least a week, aiming to map regional compliance comprehensively.

Future plans include intensifying inspections at rural milk collection centers and urban distribution hubs to address cold chain failures and prevent illegal chemical use.

The department also issued a public advisory urging consumers to purchase dairy products from licensed Food Business Operators. They encourage community involvement in monitoring milk quality and reporting suspicious activities.