Food Safety Tightened , ADM Directs Regular Inspections and Sampling

1,082 Food Businesses Registered, 151 Licences Issued

Kullu, August 27: The district administration has intensified efforts to ensure food safety and quality across Kullu district, with strict implementation of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. A meeting of the District-Level Monitoring and Advisory Committee was held under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate Surjeet Singh Rathore to review food safety measures and enforcement activities.

Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Kullu, Anil Sharma, presented a detailed report on the department’s activities during the financial year 2026-27. He informed that 1,082 food businesses have been registered and 151 licences issued so far. Special registration and licensing camps are also being organised to bring food businesses under the regulatory framework.

Regular inspections and sampling are being conducted to ensure compliance with food safety standards. So far, 56 enforcement samples have been collected, of which 26 have been analysed and six found non-compliant. In addition, 104 surveillance samples were collected, with 22 analysed and three found non-compliant. Necessary action is being taken under the food safety law in such cases.

The meeting was informed that court proceedings in food safety-related cases are also continuing, with a total fine of ₹3.10 lakh imposed in various cases so far.

The Mobile Food Testing Laboratory is being utilised for on-the-spot testing and consumer awareness. During 2026-27, the mobile laboratory analysed 408 food samples, including milk and dairy products, edible oils, sauces, water and sweets. Four samples were found non-compliant, including two cooking oil samples, one khoya burfi sample and one turmeric powder sample.

The meeting also reviewed training being provided to food business operators and handlers under the Food Safety Training and Certification programme. Various FSSAI initiatives, including hygiene ratings, Eat Right Campus, Eat Right School, used cooking oil management, high-risk food establishment audits and food fortification, are also being promoted across the district.

Under the Eat Right Campus Initiative, Government Degree College Dhalpur Kullu, Polytechnic College Seobag, Rameshwari B.Ed. College Sharabai, ITI Shamshi and ITI Patlikuhal have been identified for audits. Himalayan Himalayan Dairy Gadora Shamshi, Himalayan Dairy Jagatsukh and Thousand Sisters, Mathiana Vashisht have been identified for high-risk audits.

Food fortification initiatives are also being promoted, including the use of iron- and iodine-fortified salt, wheat flour and rice fortified with iron, folic acid and vitamin B-12, and edible oils fortified with vitamins A and D. The Women and Child Development, Education, and Food and Civil Supplies departments are encouraging the use of fortified food through Anganwadi centres, schools and the Public Distribution System.

ADM Surjeet Singh Rathore directed officials to continue regular inspection and sampling drives, strengthen the registration and licensing process, and take action against food businesses operating without the required registration or licence.

He further directed officials to intensify training and awareness programmes, monitor hygiene standards at food establishments regularly and ensure timely action against non-compliant samples. He also stressed maximum utilisation of the Mobile Food Testing Laboratory and directed that a permanent designated parking facility be provided for the laboratory to ensure smooth sampling operations.

The ADM emphasised that food safety is a shared responsibility involving government departments, food business operators and consumers. He directed officials to regularly organise awareness camps, training programmes and registration camps to strengthen a safe, hygienic and quality-oriented food culture across Kullu district.