1,600 kg buffalo meat destroyed after cold-chain violations at Budgam railway station
The FDA, J&K, along with the Railway Police, railway authorities and the District Administration, Budgam, seized and subsequently destroyed approximately 1,600 kg of buffalo meat at Budgam Railway Station following the detection of serious violations relating to its declaration, transportation and maintenance of prescribed cold-chain conditions.
The enforcement action was initiated following specific information received from the railway authorities regarding the transportation of a consignment of buffalo meat. Acting promptly on the information, the Food Safety Team, Budgam, inspected the consignment and it was observed that adequate refrigeration or dry-ice arrangements had not been made to maintain the prescribed transportation temperature of -18°C or below, thereby compromising the mandatory cold-chain requirements.
The consignment was further subjected to preliminary testing through the Food Safety on Wheels facility, which indicated that the meat was unfit for human consumption.
Accordingly, the entire consignment, weighing approximately 1,600 kg, was seized and subsequently destroyed in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the prescribed procedures for disposal of food articles unfit for human consumption.
It is pertinent to mention that, in an earlier enforcement action, the Food Safety Authorities had seized approximately 2,600 kg of meat in Srinagar. The FDA, J&K, continues to maintain strict vigilance across all districts to prevent the transportation, distribution and sale of unsafe and non-compliant food commodities, with stringent legal action being initiated against violators in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed thereunder.
The Department has urged consumers to remain vigilant and report any instance of the sale or distribution of unsafe or adulterated food through the official email at cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in.