The Food Safety Department of Jammu and Kashmir has imposed an immediate ban on the sale, storage, and distribution of the packaged drinking water brand ‘Ajwa’ after laboratory tests confirmed bacterial contamination in a sample collected from Srinagar.
The Food Safety Department of Jammu and Kashmir has issued a prohibition order (DO/FSSA/Sgr/25/661-664), declaring the packaged drinking water brand ‘Ajwa’ unsafe for human consumption. The water, manufactured by M/s Saaf Pani, Khonmoh, Srinagar, was found to be contaminated with E. coli and coliform bacteria, as confirmed by a report dated November 25, 2025, from the National Food Testing Laboratory, Ghaziabad.
The contamination indicates possible fecal presence in the water. Authorities warned that consuming such water can cause gastrointestinal illnesses, diarrhea, vomiting, and in severe cases, serious complications including kidney failure.
The ban will remain in effect until further notice. Wholesalers, retailers, and food business operators have been directed to immediately halt sales and report existing stock within 48 hours. The department invoked provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act to ensure strict enforcement of the order. (Agencies)
