Srinagar, Oct 23 (KNS): Food safety authorities in Jammu and Kashmir conducted 11,720 inspections and collected thousands of food samples during the current financial year till October, as concerns over adulteration of essential commodities came under scrutiny at a Legislative Assembly committee meeting on Friday.

Official figures presented before the Assembly's Committee on Petitions revealed that 6,259 enforcement samples and 2,508 surveillance samples were collected during 2026-27 up to October.

Besides, 5,179 samples were tested through Mobile Food Testing Vans (MFTVs).

The figures were presented by Commissioner, Food and Drugs Authority J&K, Khalid Jahangir, during a meeting chaired by legislator Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah at the Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Srinagar.

The committee expressed concern over food adulteration and called for stronger enforcement, faster testing and improved laboratory infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir.

Shah sought the establishment of state-of-the-art food testing laboratories in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions to strengthen the detection of adulterated food products and reduce delays in testing samples.

He also directed the department to fill vacant posts, increase inspections and expedite the disposal of pending food safety cases through adjudicating authorities.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

According to the department, special enforcement drives conducted between April and October covered fresh vegetables, packaged drinking water, edible oils, ghee, honey, milk products, spices, meat, bakery items, nutraceuticals and caffeinated drinks.

The committee stressed the need for stricter monitoring of essential food commodities and greater public awareness under Mission Safe Food.

However, the figures presented during the meeting did not specify how many samples were found adulterated or unsafe, or how many enforcement cases resulted in penalties.

In a separate matter, the committee examined a petition concerning alleged land encroachment at Khimber in Srinagar's Hazratbal tehsil.

It directed the Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar to verify revenue records, examine the ground situation and submit a detailed report before further action is considered.

Legislators Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Javaid Riyaz Bedar and Dr Sajjad Shafi attended the meeting along with senior officials from the Food and Drugs Authority and district administration. (KNS)