Corrupt Meat Syndicate Disrupted: Food Officials Confiscate 3,500 kilos of Decaying Lamb Throughout Kashmir
Rotted Meat Scandal Rocking Kashmir: Intensified Inspections and Stricter Regulations
The food supply chain bringing meat from states like Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab to Kashmir is under intense scrutiny following the discovery of thousands of kilograms of rotten meat. Authorities have stepped up inspections across the entire supply and retail chain, including markets, storage facilities, luxury hotels, and roadside stalls, and expanded sample testing to ensure food safety.
The government has moved beyond occasional raids to broader, steady enforcement with regular checks at multiple points in the supply chain. Thousands of kilograms of rotten meat have been confiscated, including approximately 2,500 kebabs processed with frozen meat and unpermitted food coloring, 1,200 kg of packaged mutton, and 350 kg of suspicious meat found dumped along the road.
In response to the scandal, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), under Commissioner Smiti Sethi, has promised stricter regulations. These include mandatory labeling and source disclosure for meat imports, adherence to basic safety requirements such as proper refrigeration, and rigorous enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Public advisories have been issued, warning people to buy meat only from trusted sources and to check products carefully to avoid spoiled or substandard food. Political leaders and religious authorities have urged stronger food safety laws, vigilant inspections, consumer education, and sustained regulatory frameworks to rebuild public trust and prevent recurrence.
The scandal has highlighted systemic vulnerabilities in the food supply chain, revealing entrenched malpractice, profiteering, and regulatory evasion. Building a vigilant, proactive, and transparent supply chain management system is considered essential to ensuring food safety in Kashmir over the long term.
The FDA is launching a full-fledged investigation to trace the supply chain, coordinating with the Jammu and Kashmir Police to identify the culprits. The administration is exploring coordinated efforts with the Crime Branch and Anti-Corruption Bureau to dismantle the "rotten meat mafia."
The Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, issued a fatwa in August declaring the confiscated mutton and products made from it as haram (forbidden). Dieticians and health experts have advised consumers to avoid eating meat at eateries until the supply chain is verified as safe.
The seizures have sparked demands for accountability, enhanced border inspections, and a transparent probe into the supply chain. Additional piles of rotten meat have been found in various locations, including Khande Colony, Nowgam, and another nearby location. The scandal continues to unfold, but authorities remain committed to ensuring food safety from source to consumer.
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- Amidst the ongoing food safety crisis in Kashmir, a call for improved regulations in the health-and-wellness sector, especially in food-and-drink, has intensified.
- With the 'rotted meat scandal' unfolding, concern for general-news and crime-and-justice has intertwined with that of health and lifestyle, as the public seeks assurances of safe food supply.
- In response to the rotated meat scandal and heightened concerns for health, nutritional advisories have been issued, advising consumers to focus on wholesome eating rather than relying on questionable food sources.
- Stricter enforcement of regulations in the health sector, specifically in the supply chain of food-and-drink, is vital to curb malpractice and improve overall health and wellness in Kashmir.
