Srinagar, Aug 3: The Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly's Committee on Petitions on Monday called for a zero-tolerance crackdown on food adulteration and the illegal sale of antibiotics, stressing that public health must remain a top priority.

The meeting, chaired by MLA Pirzada Farooq Ahmad Shah at the Assembly Secretariat, reviewed the Food & Drugs Administration's status report on adulteration in essential food items, including milk, meat, fish, vegetables, spices and packaged food across the Union Territory.
Committee members Mir Mohammad Fayaz, Sheikh Ahsan Ahmad (Pardesi), Javaid Iqbal and Shagun Parihar attended the meeting.
Expressing concern over the growing public health risk, the Chairman said no citizen should be forced to compromise on food quality and directed all concerned departments to adopt a coordinated, time-bound and zero-tolerance approach to eliminate adulteration.
He also stressed the need for regular market inspections, public awareness campaigns and training programmes for Food Business Operators (FBOs), food handlers and street vendors to improve hygiene and compliance with food safety standards.
Taking serious note of the misuse of medicines, the Committee directed authorities to strictly stop the sale of antibiotics without a valid medical prescription and initiate stern action against violators.
Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, Khalid Jahangir, informed the Committee that the department conducted 21,120 inspections and collected 10,444 food samples during 2025-26. In the first quarter of 2026-27, another 5,221 inspections were carried out.
He said 25,003 food samples have been tested through Mobile Food Testing Vans, including 4,178 samples during the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, to strengthen on-the-spot quality checks.
The Commissioner also informed the Committee that Multi-Departmental Joint Enforcement Teams have been constituted at district, tehsil and block levels to conduct special enforcement drives against adulteration in fruits, milk, edible oils, ghee, honey and packaged drinking water.
The Committee also reviewed the compliance report submitted by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, regarding the appointment of a Lumbardar for village Porwara in Chadoora tehsil.
Secretary Legislative Assembly, SMC Commissioner, ADC Srinagar, ADC Budgam and senior officers of the Food & Drugs Administration attended the meeting.