Over the past week or so, the quality of food sold in restaurants and by street vendors across the Kashmir Valley has become a matter of intense public debate. While many people welcome the swift action taken by officials, others question why these measures were not implemented earlier and why unsafe, unhygienic chicken and meat were allowed to be sold so widely for years. There is also concern over how such products entered the Valley in the first place without proper quality checks. Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have seized more than 11,668 kilograms of unsafe meat in just over a week. Srinagar Police have identified two individuals suspected of playing key roles in the racket, and legal action is underway. Police have stressed that the deliberate distribution of rotten meat poses a serious risk to public health and is a grave offence under the law. FIR No. 48/2025 has been registered at Police Station Zakura under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and the investigation continues. Health experts from SKIMS and GMC Srinagar have warned that food adulteration can lead to chronic illnesses. They have urged people to avoid buying meat from unverified vendors and to report violations through the “Dial 104” helpline, rather than taking matters into their own hands. The Chief Minister has now directed that strong punitive action be taken against those involved in storing or selling unsafe food. He emphasised that offenders who endanger public health must be prosecuted under the Food Safety and Standards Act, with the most serious cases facing criminal charges. The Chief Minister described the situation as a long-neglected problem that had gone unchecked for far too long, allowing unscrupulous individuals to endanger the health and lives of people. He praised officials for exposing the scale of the problem and reiterated that there could be no compromise on public health. The drive against unsafe meat will continue, and an audit will be conducted to examine the role of the departments concerned, as well as the systems in place to prevent the import and sale of unhygienic products. To strengthen quality control, the Chief Minister has ordered the setting up of entry-point check posts and testing laboratories at Lakhanpur and Qazigund to screen mutton, chicken, and other perishable goods entering Jammu and Kashmir. Food Testing Laboratories will also be established in every district, replacing the current practice of having such facilities only in Jammu and Srinagar. The Food Safety and Drugs Organization will be reinforced to enable more effective monitoring and rapid enforcement. No meat will be permitted for sale or consumption without proper clearance. These measures, if fully implemented and sustained, could help protect public health and restore trust in the food supply chain across the union territory. The public too has a crucial role in ensuring that unsafe and unhygienic meat is eliminated from the market. Consumers must remain alert, buy meat only from verified and licensed vendors and demand proof of quality where necessary.
No Compromise
