Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 12 : The Food Safety Department in Anantnag has taken swift action after a laboratory report found a particular batch of Priyagold Butter Delite biscuits unsafe for public consumption.
According to the details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) the move came after officials detected excessive sulphite levels in the product during routine market surveillance.
Officials said that a Food Safety Officer had collected a sample of Priyagold Butter Delite biscuits (Batch No. E25KPO2FB) being sold in local markets. The sample was forwarded to the National Food Laboratory (NFL), Ghaziabad, for detailed testing.
The lab report — No. JK-665/DEC/25/786 dated December 5, 2025 — confirmed that the sulphite content in the biscuit sample was higher than the maximum permissible limit set under food safety regulations. Elevated sulphite levels, experts warn, can cause health complications, especially for sensitive individuals.
Terming the product “unsafe,” the report prompted immediate administrative action. Officials noted that the manufacturing or sale of such unsafe food items amounts to a violation of Section 3(1)(zz)(xi) of the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006.
Invoking powers under Section 36(3)(b) of the Act, Sheikh Zameer Ahmad, Designated Officer, Food Safety Anantnag, issued an order restricting the sale, storage, and distribution of the implicated batch across the district.
“All wholesalers, retailers, and shopkeepers have been directed to promptly withdraw this batch from their shelves,” the order states, adding that strict compliance is mandatory.
The department has also urged consumers to refrain from purchasing or consuming biscuits from the specific batch until further notice.
The sample belonged to products manufactured by M/S Surya Food & Agro Ltd. (Unit II) at Greater Noida and marketed by the same company from its Noida headquarters.
Officials reiterated that safeguarding public health is the department’s top priority and further monitoring is underway—(KNO)
