Rotten Meat, Chicken ‘Scandal’ in Kashmir deepens; supply chain links emerge from Ghaziabad, Jaipur
(Our Special Correspondent): Srinagar, Aug 10: The Valley’s food safety nightmare is growing as authorities widen their crackdown on adulterated and unhygienic meat and poultry. Raids by the Food Safety Department across Kashmir have uncovered disturbing violations, while the Legal Metrology Department has stepped in to monitor weights, measures and consumer fraud aspects of the supply network.
Investigators have now traced key supply chain links to Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Jaipur in Rajasthan, raising concerns about large-scale inter-state trafficking of substandard meat products into Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to this correspondent, Assistant Commissioner Food Safety and Enforcement Officer Hilal Ahmed Mir revealed that initial laboratory tests on seized samples have already confirmed the presence of synthetic colours and harmful preservatives in both meat and chicken. “The Food Safety Act has been blatantly violated. Traders are selling meat and chicken sourced from Jaipur and Ghaziabad without maintaining proper hygiene or quality standards,” Mir said.
He emphasised that the full nature of the meat will only be confirmed once detailed reports arrive. “We must wait for the results before making final conclusions. Rumours are flying about pig meat, horse meat, and even donkey meat being sold. Such speculation can cause panic—let’s rely on facts,” he urged.
The crackdown intensified on Sunday when officials seized approximately 1,500 kebabs and a large quantity of rotten meat and chicken from multiple locations in Srinagar. The seized products were reportedly destined for sale in eateries and roadside stalls.
This is not the first time Kashmir has been rocked by a meat adulteration controversy. Over the past decade, sporadic seizures of stale or chemically-treated meat have made headlines, often triggering public outrage. In 2016, authorities busted a major racket involving the sale of carcass meat collected from dumps and disposed of in slaughterhouses. More recently, in 2022, police intercepted a truckload of decomposed chicken allegedly headed for distribution in Srinagar’s markets.
Food safety experts say the problem is rooted in weak supply chain oversight, insufficient cold storage facilities, and poor regulation of imports from outside states. With meat being a staple in Kashmiri cuisine—especially in dishes like wazwan—demand is high year-round, making the market vulnerable to unscrupulous traders looking for quick profits.
Health professionals warn that consumption of such adulterated meat can lead to severe food poisoning, gastrointestinal infections, and long-term health risks due to chemical preservatives. Synthetic colours, often used to make stale meat appear fresh, can be carcinogenic.
Authorities say that once the full forensic report is in, criminal proceedings will be initiated against those found guilty. The investigation is also expected to expand beyond Kashmir to track the role of suppliers in Ghaziabad and Jaipur, potentially involving multiple enforcement agencies across states.
For now, officials have urged the public to purchase meat only from licensed vendors, check for freshness, and avoid products that appear unnaturally coloured or have a foul odour.
