Kashmir's Tainted Meat Scandal Rocks Valley

In a chilling revelation, Kashmir’s Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has uncovered a massive rotten-meat scandal, seizing and destroying over 3,500 kilograms of adulterated, decomposed, and unlabelled meat across the valley in recent weeks. The crackdown, intensified after a July 31 raid in an industrial estate on the outskirts of Srinagar, where 1,200 kg of putrefied meat was confiscated from a trader, has sent shockwaves through the region, raising serious concerns about public health and food safety.

The FDA’s relentless campaign continued with a raid in Pulwama’s Lasjan area, where 500 kg of rotten meat, intended for commercial distribution to restaurants and hotels, was seized. In Safakadal and Parimpora, enforcement teams confiscated 2,500 kebabs processed with frozen meat laced with unpermitted food coloring, alongside 150 kg of tainted meatballs. These products, lacking proper labeling and cold-chain logistics, were destroyed on-site to prevent health risks. Food safety officers collected samples for analysis, with legal action pending against violators.

On Tuesday, in Ganderbal’s Nagbal area, 250 kg of locally sourced meat was destroyed due to visible deterioration from improper handling and storage. Authorities noted that many seized consignments were transported or stored without adequate refrigeration, amplifying risks of bacterial contamination. In a disturbing trend, some food business operators (FBOs), fearing prosecution, illegally dumped unsafe meat in abandoned areas, including 350 kg found on a road between Gallandar and Pampore in Pulwama and another stash in Khandey Colony, Nawgam.

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The scale of the scandal has sparked widespread panic among consumers, who are questioning the safety of meat products in the valley. Health experts have sounded the alarm, warning that unhygienic meat handling—spanning slaughtering, packaging, transportation, and storage—can lead to severe health issues. “Contaminated meat can harbor bacteria causing food poisoning, diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid, and other serious conditions,” said Dr. Mohammad Salim Khan, Professor and Head of Community Medicine at Government Medical College, Srinagar. He urged stricter oversight of the meat supply chain to curb these risks.

Religious leaders have also weighed in, amplifying the public’s unease. Jammu and Kashmir’s Grand Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam issued a fatwa declaring the consumption, sale, or trade of “haram” (forbidden) meat as strictly prohibited under Islamic law, calling for robust measures to ensure transparency in the meat industry. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Hurriyat Conference chairman and Kashmir’s chief cleric, expressed profound shock during a sermon at Srinagar’s historic Jamia Masjid, condemning the circulation of over 3,500 kg of rotten and potentially unlawful meat.

The Department of Food Safety has adopted a zero-tolerance stance, vowing stringent legal action against non-compliant FBOs. On Thursday, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Satish Sharma ordered the enforcement wing to escalate its crackdown across the Union Territory. “The health of our citizens is paramount. Any violation of food safety standards will face swift and firm action,” Sharma declared, directing teams to conduct regular inspections and surprise raids to root out adulterated or substandard meat.

As the FDA continues its rigorous enforcement, questions linger about how such large quantities of unsafe meat entered the supply chain undetected. Local residents are demanding greater accountability and enhanced monitoring to restore trust in the region’s food markets. The scandal has not only exposed vulnerabilities in Kashmir’s food safety framework but also underscored the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect public health.

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