J&K food safety drive nets over 12,000 Kg rotten meat
Crackdown intensifies as interstate supply chains traced to Ghaziabad, Jaipur
By: Our Special Correspondent
Srinagar: Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have seized and destroyed more than 12,000 kilograms of rotten meat in a sweeping crackdown on unsafe food practices, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) J&K confirmed on Monday.
The large-scale operation, launched on the directions of the Chief Minister, is being carried out simultaneously in all districts. Dedicated inspection teams have been deployed to check slaughterhouses, cold storage facilities, and retail outlets for compliance with hygiene and licensing norms.
FDA Commissioner Smita Sethi said the seizures were made during surprise inspections over the past several days, in which multiple consignments were found stored in ordinary polythene bags, without proper refrigeration, and in unhygienic conditions. Samples from different locations have been sent for laboratory testing. “Wherever gross negligence is found, strict legal action is being taken,” she said.
The crackdown follows a spate of alarming incidents and public complaints in recent weeks about the sale of adulterated and decomposed meat in various parts of J&K. In some cases, meat was reportedly brought in from outside the UT in unrefrigerated vehicles, raising concerns about contamination and the spread of food-borne illnesses.
Past inspections by the Food Safety Department have revealed unlicensed slaughterhouses operating in residential areas, improper waste disposal, and inadequate storage facilities, all of which pose significant public health risks. Medical experts have repeatedly warned that consumption of contaminated meat can cause and serious illnesses, including food poisoning, gastrointestinal infections, and zoonotic diseases.
Recent raids in Srinagar, Anantnag, Budgam, and Baramulla uncovered meat supplies that had allegedly been chemically treated to mask foul odours and extend shelf life — a practice that is illegal and potentially dangerous. In some cases, the source of the meat was traced to interstate supply chains from cities such as Ghaziabad and Jaipur.
Authorities have said the current drive will remain in force until all links in the meat supply chain — from slaughter to sale — adhere to prescribed food safety regulations. Public cooperation is being sought, with residents urged to report any suspected cases of unsafe meat sales to their nearest police station or food safety office.
