Meat Row: A severe public health emergency
By: Dr M U Muhammad
Kashmir’s streets are abuzz with outrage — and rightly so. In just the past week, authorities have seized over 3,000 kilograms of rotten meat from markets, restaurants, and roadside dumps. This is more than a case of poor food quality. It is a serious public health emergency that threatens the health, dignity, and trust of an entire community.
Why this is a Health Emergency
Rotten meat is not just unpleasant — it is dangerous. It can carry bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens, all capable of causing severe illness. Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, dehydration, and fever can appear within hours. In infants, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, these infections can be life-threatening.
And the danger doesn’t stop at the dinner plate. Toxins from spoiled meat may survive cooking, and discarded carcasses can contaminate soil, water sources, and the wider environment, attracting stray animals and pests. This turns a private health risk into a public one.
The Bigger Picture
Food safety is not an optional extra — it is the foundation of public trust. When unsafe meat enters the market, it is not only a violation of consumer rights but also an attack on our collective well-being. It undermines Kashmir’s proud culinary traditions and puts our entire food system under suspicion.
Who is Responsible?
While the Food Safety Department’s recent raids and restaurant closures are commendable, they must be followed by a sustained, zero-tolerance campaign. The problem lies not just with end sellers but across the supply chain — from slaughterhouses and transporters to wholesalers and retailers.
Every kilogram of meat sold should be traceable to its source, certified by veterinary inspection, and stored in proper cold-chain facilities. Anything less is gambling with human life.
What We Must Do — Together
This is not a fight for authorities alone. Every citizen can — and must — help:
- Inspect before buying: Trust your senses. If meat smells sour, feels slimy, or looks discolored, don’t buy it.
- Report unsafe sales: Contact the Food Safety helpline or local municipal authorities.
- Buy from trusted sources: Choose licensed butchers and reputable shops.
- Spread awareness: Use community meetings, masjids, schools, and social media to educate others.
The Way Forward
Kashmir needs stricter enforcement of food safety laws, modernized slaughter and storage facilities, and routine public health inspections. Religious leaders, civil society, and the media should unite in calling for stronger protections.
Rotten meat is more than bad food — it is a direct assault on public health, moral responsibility, and human dignity. If we ignore it now, we invite larger crises tomorrow.
The choice is ours: act decisively today, or pay the price in sickness and broken trust tomorrow.
(The author holds and M.D degree and is a Public Health Specialist)
