DH NEWS SERVICE
POONCH, Aug 20
Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Ashok Kumar Sharma, today chaired a meeting of the District Level Advisory Committee on Safe Food and Healthy Diet at the Conference Hall of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office Complex, Poonch, to review measures for ensuring food safety, quality and hygiene across the district.
Among those present were the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, Tahir Mustafa Malik; General Manager, District Industries Centre, Naheem Un Nissa Bhatti; Chief Education Officer; Assistant Director, Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Khalil Ahmed Banday; Deputy Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Neeraj Sharma; District Youth Services and Sports Officer, Mohd Qasim; Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety, Tariq Mehmood; and other officers concerned. The meeting held detailed discussions on food safety, hygiene standards, quality control and the availability of safe, healthy food in hotels, restaurants, eateries and other food establishments across the district. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that ensuring the availability of safe, hygienic and quality food is a collective responsibility, and directed all departments concerned to maintain strict vigilance over food-related establishments. He stressed the need for regular inspections and effective enforcement of prescribed food safety standards to safeguard public health. The DC directed the officers concerned to ensure that unsafe, stale, sub-standard or improperly stored frozen food is not supplied or served in hotels, restaurants and other eating establishments.
He instructed the Food Safety Department and other agencies concerned to conduct regular inspections, particularly of hotels, restaurants, dhabas, bakeries, food outlets and other establishments dealing in food items. He further directed the officers to check the quality, storage conditions, expiry dates, labelling and hygiene standards of food products and to take action against violations as per the prescribed rules.
He also asked the officers to ensure that food items are stored under proper conditions and that cold-chain requirements are followed strictly wherever applicable.
The Deputy Commissioner called for greater awareness among food business operators regarding safe food handling, personal hygiene, cleanliness of kitchens and proper disposal of waste. He directed the departments concerned to undertake awareness activities so that consumers too are made aware of their rights and the importance of consuming safe, nutritious food.
The Deputy Commissioner also stressed the need for close coordination among the Health, Food Safety, Police, Agriculture, Education and Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs departments for effective implementation of food safety measures. He directed the officers to submit regular inspection reports and ensure prompt action wherever deficiencies or violations are noticed.
He underscored that no compromise should be made with public health, and directed the authorities concerned to remain proactive and vigilant, particularly in view of the increasing movement of tourists, pilgrims and visitors in the district.
The meeting concluded with the Deputy Commissioner reiterating the need for strict compliance with food safety norms and coordinated efforts to ensure that the people of Poonch have access to safe, hygienic, nutritious and quality food.
