Srinagar, Nov 14 (KNS): The Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday seized and destroyed approximately 1,600 kilograms of buffalo meat at Budgam Railway Station after finding violations of food safety requirements, including improper transportation and failure to maintain the prescribed temperature.

Officials said the action was carried out jointly by the FDA, Railway Police, railway authorities, District Administration Budgam and Municipal Committee Budgam following information about a consignment of buffalo meat being transported through the railway station.

According to an official statement issued by the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, J&K, the Food Safety Team Budgam inspected the consignment after receiving specific information from railway authorities.

During the inspection, officials found that adequate refrigeration or dry-ice arrangements had not been made to maintain the mandatory transportation temperature of minus 18 degrees Celsius or below.

The FDA said the absence of proper refrigeration had compromised the prescribed cold-chain requirements, raising serious concerns about the safety of the meat intended for human consumption.

Officials said the consignment was subsequently subjected to preliminary testing through the Food Safety on Wheels facility, which indicated that the meat was unfit for human consumption.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

"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," the FDA said.

The department said the destruction was carried out following prescribed procedures for disposing of food articles found unfit for human consumption.

The latest seizure comes after an earlier enforcement action in Srinagar, where food safety authorities had seized approximately 2,600 kilograms of meat over food safety concerns.

With the latest action, the quantity of meat seized in the two enforcement operations has reached approximately 4,200 kilograms.

The FDA said it was maintaining strict surveillance across Jammu and Kashmir to prevent the transportation, distribution and sale of unsafe or non-compliant food products.

It warned that stringent legal action would be initiated against those found violating food safety standards under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations framed under it.

The department also urged consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing meat and other food products and report suspected cases of unsafe or adulterated food to the authorities.

Consumers can lodge complaints through the official email address cfsjandk.fnd@jk.gov.in, the statement added. (KNS)