Raja Syed Rather
Srinagar, Aug 20: Jammu & Kashmir has reported alarming levels of food adulteration in the past five years, with more than 6,200 food samples failing safety standards out of 41,717 tested, according to data presented in Parliament.
The figures show that nearly 15 per cent of food items analyzed between 2020 and 2025 were found unfit for consumption.
In 2020-21, 4,094 samples were tested, of which 871 were declared non-conforming, leading to 573 penalties.
In 2021-22, testing expanded to 8,109 samples, with 1,735 failing standards. That year also saw the highest enforcement, with 1,931 penalties imposed.
In 2022-23, authorities tested 13,502 samples—the highest in the period—but 1,195 failed to meet safety norms. A total of 1,592 penalties were issued. The following year (2023-24), 9,057 samples were tested, 750 were adulterated, and 1,612 penalties were imposed, including some pending cases from previous years.
In the current year (2024-25), 6,955 samples were tested, with 651 found unsafe, leading to 1,239 penalties.
Overall, Jammu and Kashmir recorded 6,202 non-conforming samples and more than 6,900 penalties between 2020 and 2025.
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has been urging states and Union Territories, including J&K, to strengthen enforcement mechanisms and fill vacant posts of food safety officers.
The Health Ministry informed the Rajya Sabha that whenever samples are found non-conforming to provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, legal action and penalties are initiated against defaulters.
