Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 3: In a disturbing string of food safety violations across Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have seized massive quantities of adulterated and unsafe food items, exposing a dangerous network allegedly putting public health at grave risk.
The most recent bust on Friday saw 1,200 kilograms of decomposed meat confiscated from a storage facility in Zakura Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Srinagar. Officials from the Food Safety Department and Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) reported that the spoiled meat had been shipped from outside the region and was destined for consumption in local hotels and restaurants.
A food safety official explained, “The meat had decomposed due to failure in maintaining cold chain temperatures. Unrefrigerated vehicles and improper packaging caused bacterial growth and visible decay.”
Reports indicate that while upscale restaurants may have escaped using the substandard consignment, low-cost eateries and vendors might have unknowingly served the tainted meat—further complicating health risks for unsuspecting consumers. Authorities fear that this menace might not be confined to Srinagar alone, warning that similar spoiled stock could have been routed to rural markets and small-town restaurants across the Valley.
This incident followed a sweeping crackdown in Jammu, where nearly 50,000 kilograms of counterfeit Rasg Authorities have seized massive quantities of adulterated and unsafe food items, exposing a dangerous network allegedly putting public health at grave risk.
The most recent bust on Friday saw 1,200 kilograms of decomposed meat confiscated from a storage facility in Zakura Industrial Estate on the outskirts of Srinagar.
Food Safety Deputy Commissioner Darshan Mangotra confirmed the seizure, revealing that 2,750 tins of Rasgulla had been confiscated and sent for lab analysis.
“These products were being stored in a facility meant only for agricultural commodities. The SOPs for processed food handling were blatantly ignored,” Mangotra told The Early Times.
Sources within the Food Safety Department fear a larger, orchestrated system of exploitation that disregards public health for profit. Allegations are surfacing that certain unidentified forces may be deliberately circulating adulterated food supplies across the Union Territory, endangering the lives of millions of residents—particularly in regions where monitoring is sparse and vendors operate informally.
Law enforcement agencies have launched deeper investigations into individuals linked to the transportation and distribution of fake cheese, including two suspects caught unloading the consignment in Jammu and alleged handlers traced back to Kokernag.
The developments underscore urgent calls for stricter oversight, stronger enforcement of food safety standards, and public awareness campaigns to combat what appears to be a systemic threat to health and welfare in J&K. | 