𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐇𝐚𝐳𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐲𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Srinagar, April 11: Acting on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, the Food Safety Team carried out extensive inspections of food outlets in the Hazratbal area on Thursday.

During the drive, several street vendors were found violating key provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, particularly concerning temperature control and environmental safety—high-risk food items were being stored in unsafe conditions and exposed to environmental contaminants.

Around seven Food Business Operators (FBOs) in the Hazratbal market were found operating in unhygienic conditions and mishandling high-risk foods. Consequently, a challan was filed with the Adjudicating Officer (ADC Srinagar) for breaching various provisions of the Food Safety Act.

The inspection team, led by Assistant Commissioner Yameen ul Nabi, has intensified intelligence gathering on the sale of unhygienic or misbranded food to bolster food safety enforcement in Srinagar.

FBOs dealing with high-risk foods have been instructed to maintain strict hygiene and sanitation standards or face legal action under the FSS Act. The team also used the occasion to spread awareness about food safety laws and warned that non-compliance would lead to strict penalties.

Meanwhile, following a viral social media video, the team inspected a meat shop in Hazratbal. The shop was found to have been non-operational for over a decade, as verified by locals and the owner. However, the owner was reportedly running a chicken street vending business and possibly storing related tools like knives and wooden logs inside the premises.