The Food Safety Department, along with officials from the Municipal Council, police, and revenue authorities, conducted a surprise market inspection on Friday to check the quality of food being served in eateries.
During the drive in the Bandipora division, officials cracked down on several eateries, hotels, and restaurants, issuing warnings to maintain proper safety and hygiene standards to protect public health. Around five dozen kebabs from one eatery were also disposed of after being found unfit for consumption.
“To be precise, around 55 machine-made kebabs were seized during the drive,” District Food Safety Officer Zahoor Ahmad told Greater Kashmir.
The Tehsildar, along with other officials, strictly warned eatery owners to follow proper laws for the sale and purchase of meat to maintain public trust.
Traders’ President Ali Mohammad Hajam welcomed the inspection drive and urged eatery owners to adhere to safety standards. “It is a health concern, and these people should cooperate with the departments. Wherever food safety officials suspect food is adulterated or unhygienic, action must be taken,” he said.
Meanwhile, concerns raised by locals and officials over allegedly “rotten rice” delivered to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) depot at Shilvat, Sumbal, have been acknowledged.
On Thursday, officials, locals, and drivers halted the unloading of trucks after rice containing “webbing and insects” was reportedly found. “There are around twelve trucks halted at the location, having arrived with rice from Punjab,” the District Food Safety Officer said.
He added that FCI depot officials have received instructions from higher authorities in Punjab to proceed with unloading. “The unloading will take two days, after which sampling will be done,” he said. Regarding the allegations of insect-infested rice, he noted that further action would follow once the lab results are available. “After unloading, sampling will be conducted,” he assured. (Agencies)
