In a significant development, Kashmir University (KU) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), J&K are set to intensify efforts to combat food adulteration. The varsity administration and FDA are planning a major consumer-awareness campaign alongside capacity-building programmes for food business operators. Talking to Greater Kashmir on the sidelines of the Annual IIPA Debate 2026, organised by the Department of Students’ Welfare, University of Kashmir, in collaboration with the IIPA J&K Regional Branch, Vice Chancellor Kashmir University (KU) Prof. Nilofer Khan said the varsity was ready to collaborate with the government by leveraging its scientific expertise, infrastructure and student strength. “If there is any need to make a change, it is the youth who can make it possible,” Prof Khan said. She added that the recommendations emerging from the debate would be compiled and explored for implementation. The annual IIPA Inter College, Department, University Debate-2026 was organised on the topic “Food Adulteration: The Biggest Public Health Challenge Facing J&K. VC KU said the university scientists have worked on food-adulteration projects at the national level and possess state-of-the-art infrastructure in its Food Science and Technology Department. “We can utilise their expertise and infrastructure. The students from Food Science and Technology, Social Work, Sociology, Home Science and other related departments could be taken to rural areas, schools and colleges to create awareness about food safety," she added. Prof Khan said the university could also undertake awareness programmes and research projects and help integrate its students with government initiatives. “There is a huge amount of data present in the university, which can be the base,” she said, adding that the university would work with the Food and Drug Administration on ways to involve students in its activities. Commissioner Food & Drug Administration J&K Khalid Jahangir earlier in his address said that consumer awareness would be the “first line of defence” against food adulteration amid the growing complexity and scale of the food industry. He said food products that were earlier largely sourced locally are now transported across the country and even from outside India, making production, storage and transportation a major challenge for food safety. “The first and foremost bulwark against adulteration is an informed citizen. The first line of defence is awareness among consumers,” Jahangir said. He stressed the need for consumers to develop the habit of reading food labels before purchasing packaged products. Jahangir said tampering with labels had emerged as a new challenge, saying that the FDA had recently scrutinised around 400 labels, of which more than 10 percent were found to have been tampered with. “A label must inform. It should not mislead,” he said. The Commissioner FDA said the department would soon launch a comprehensive awareness campaign covering digital and social media platforms, print and electronic media and other communication channels, including WhatsApp broadcasts. He said the government had supported the initiative and the department was hiring a creative agency to develop the campaign. The campaign will cover issues including milk adulteration, pesticide residues and scrutiny of food labels, with the aim of reaching at least 10 lakh consumers during the current financial year. Jahangir also briefed about the provisions empowering consumers under Section 40 of the food safety law, saying a consumer suspecting that a food product was unsafe or non-conforming could get it analysed independently. He said consumers could approach food safety authorities with the test results and, in specified circumstances, the cost of testing would be reimbursed if the product was found unsafe or non-conforming to prescribed standards. “Consumers cannot be passive recipients. He or she has to be an equal partner and stakeholder in the food safety governance system,” he said. The Commissioner said the department was also working on guidelines for traditional foods specific to Jammu and Kashmir, including local dishes and breads, in consultation with food safety experts. He said the proposed guidelines would be placed in the public domain for suggestions before being notified. Jahangir said J&K’s tourism-based economy had added another dimension to the food-safety challenge, with the influx of tourists contributing to the growth of food joints and eateries. He said the department would conduct regular inspections of food establishments, particularly with regard to hygiene and other prescribed standards. The FDA is also planning capacity-building programmes for 10,000 food business operators during the current financial year, covering different categories such as restaurants, street vendors and milk vendors. “These programmes will be organised across all districts of J&K. The department plans to expand the target next year," he added. Jahangir said the administration’s broader objective was to have informed consumers, responsible food business operators and a responsive regulatory system. The debate was organised by the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), J&K Regional Branch Srinagar, in collaboration with the English Debate Club of the Department of Students Welfare, University of Kashmir.

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