| Despite warnings, synthetic Paneer floods Jammu again—2,100 Kg more recovered | | |  Sanjay Pandita
Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 23: Despite repeated warnings by authorities, the influx of adulterated and unsafe food items continues unabated across Jammu and Kashmir, exposing a deeply entrenched network of smugglers and unscrupulous traders jeopardising public health.
On Saturday, the Food Safety Department seized 2,100 kilograms of synthetic paneer smuggled from Delhi into Jammu. Officials confirmed that 1,600 kg had arrived by train earlier in the day, while another 500 kg was found stored at a godown in Gangyal.
“Earlier, this gang smuggled synthetic paneer through video or sleeper coaches. Now they’ve started using train consignments,” an official told reporters.
This latest seizure is part of a sweeping crackdown underway across the Union Territory, which has unearthed disturbing volumes of rotten meat, expired sweets, and counterfeit dairy products—often destined for unsuspecting consumers in both urban and rural markets.
In the Kashmir Valley, over 12,000 kilograms of decomposed and rotting meat have been confiscated in recent weeks. According to officials from the Food Safety Department and Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), the spoiled meat was transported from outside the region and intended for distribution to local hotels and eateries.
“The meat had decomposed due to the failure of cold chain logistics—unrefrigerated vehicles and improper packaging led to rapid bacterial decay,” a senior food safety official explained.
While larger restaurants may have avoided the consignment, authorities suspect that small eateries and roadside vendors may have unknowingly served the tainted meat, increasing the health risk for ordinary consumers.
The crisis extends well beyond meat. In Jammu’s Bishnah area, nearly 40,000 kg of counterfeit rasgullas were recently discovered in a cold storage facility meant for storing only agricultural products. Just days earlier, authorities intercepted 800 kg of synthetic paneer aboard a bus from Delhi to Katra.
In another major bust, 2,700 kg of expired fish and chicken were seized in a late-night raid in Jammu city and subsequently destroyed under Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) supervision at the Kot Bhalwal dumping site.
Sources within the Food Safety Department fear a larger, organised network operating across state lines. Two suspects were caught unloading synthetic paneer in Jammu, while others are allegedly linked to handlers traced to Kokernag in South Kashmir.
“There seems to be a deliberate attempt to flood our markets with substandard food, particularly in areas with limited monitoring,” an official said.
The scale of the seizures has prompted urgent calls for stricter enforcement, more surprise checks, and public awareness to combat what appears to be a systemic threat to food safety in the region.
With the festive season approaching and food consumption expected to rise sharply, the government is urging citizens to stay alert and report any suspicious food items.
“People must wake up. You have the right to know what’s on your plate,” an FSD official stated. “Always check expiry labels, avoid foul-smelling goods, and report any violations immediately. Your vigilance can save lives.”
Authorities have also issued strict warnings to restaurant owners, meat sellers, and vendors: maintain hygiene or face heavy fines, license suspension, or even permanent closure.
Joint teams of the Food Safety Department (FSD) and Legal Metrology Department (LMD) are continuing intensive inspections for the seventh consecutive day, especially in high-consumption zones and wholesale markets.
The ongoing operation is being hailed as one of the largest food safety offensives in the recent history of Jammu and Kashmir, aimed at ensuring that public health is not compromised by profiteering and negligence. |
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