JAMMU, Oct 23: Shiv Sena Hindustan Jammu and Kashmir President Pt Rajesh Kesri on Thursday urged the government and concerned departments to launch an immediate and intensive crackdown on adulterated sweets, khoya, paneer, milk and other food products being sold in markets ahead of the festive season.
Addressing a press conference, Kesri said that the sale of adulterated food items during festivals poses a serious threat to public health, as increased demand for sweets and dairy products often creates opportunities for unscrupulous traders to compromise on food safety for monetary gains.
Taking serious note of the issue, Kesri said the government must ensure that the health of citizens is not put at risk in the name of festive celebrations. He stressed that the Health Department, Food Safety Department, Legal Metrology Department, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Department, and other concerned agencies must act promptly and coordinate their efforts to prevent the sale of unsafe food products.
Kesri criticised the practice of conducting inspections and collecting samples only when festivals are about to conclude. He pointed out that samples collected at the last moment often undergo testing after the festive period, defeating the purpose of preventive enforcement and allowing consumers to remain exposed to potentially unsafe products during the most sensitive period.
He demanded that market inspections and sample collection begin immediately, with special attention to sweet shops, dairy outlets, wholesale suppliers and establishments dealing in products used extensively during festivals.
“Food safety cannot be treated as a formality or a last-minute exercise. The departments must act before the festive rush reaches its peak, so that adulterated products can be identified and removed from the market in time,” Kesri said.
The Shiv Sena Hindustan leader called for prompt laboratory testing of suspicious food samples and strict action against those found violating food safety regulations. He said that products confirmed to be adulterated or unsafe must be withdrawn from sale and disposed of in accordance with the law, while offenders should face appropriate legal consequences.
He also called for regular monitoring of khoya, paneer, milk, milk-based sweets and other commonly consumed food items, particularly those sourced from outside Jammu and sold through local markets.
Kesri emphasised that food adulteration is not merely a consumer-related concern but a broader public health issue. Unsafe food can cause illness, impose an additional burden on families and healthcare facilities, and undermine public confidence in the food supply system.
Kesri said that safeguarding the health of children and young people must remain a priority, as families purchase sweets and dairy products in large quantities during festivals. He urged the authorities to ensure that consumers have access to safe and hygienic food without having to worry about adulteration.
He further appealed to shopkeepers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers to maintain quality standards and refrain from practices that could endanger consumers. He said that responsible business practices and effective government enforcement must go hand in hand to ensure a safe festive season.
Kesri urged the administration to make food safety inspections a continuous exercise rather than a seasonal formality, adding that timely intervention, transparent testing and strict enforcement would help protect public health and strengthen consumer confidence.Among those present at the press conference were Balwant Fauji, Raj Kumar, Rajeshwar Singh and Sanjeev Sharma.