Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir — In a significant move to curb the sale of unlabelled and potentially unsafe food products, the Food Safety Department seized 340 kilograms of unlabelled, frozen packaged meat at Srinagar’s international airport on Sunday. The consignment, which had been flown in from outside the region, was bound for Aali Kadal, a locality in the city’s downtown area. The seizure followed a tip-off from sales tax officials stationed at the airport.
According to Yamin Un Nabi, Assistant Commissioner of Food Safety, the seized meat did not meet the mandatory labelling requirements outlined by food safety regulations. The packaging lacked information about the origin of the meat, its slaughter method, packaging date, and any preservatives used — all of which are critical for consumer safety and health.
“The meat was frozen, but its packaging failed to meet the labelling standards required by law,” Nabi explained. “As a result, the trader responsible for this consignment has had their licence suspended. We’ve also taken a sample of the meat for detailed testing, and further legal action will follow as per food safety regulations.”
The Food Safety Department’s action is part of a broader crackdown on unlabelled food products in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier this year, the issue of rotten meat emerged when large quantities of decomposing meat were discovered in Srinagar’s Zakura area in July. This led to a wave of investigations by authorities, including the booking of two traders and the suspension of over a dozen trade licences.
Following the exposure of the rotten meat scandal, many traders resorted to dumping unsanitary meat in various parts of the Valley or stopped transporting it along the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, where it had previously gone undetected.
Stringent Measures to Protect Public Health
Yamin Un Nabi stressed that the crackdown had curtailed the illegal transportation of unlabelled meat for a time, but this recent interception via air cargo demonstrated that some traders were still attempting to bypass regulations. “This trader tried to circumvent the ban by using air cargo to transport unlabelled meat, but thanks to the coordination between food safety authorities and sales tax officials, we were able to intercept it quickly,” Nabi said.
In response to rising concerns about food safety, on August 21, Smita Sethi, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs in Jammu and Kashmir, issued a stringent order prohibiting the distribution and sale of unlabelled packaged food items. The order cited serious public health risks associated with the consumption of such products, urging strict compliance with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging and Labelling) Regulations, 2020.
“All food business operators, including manufacturers, processors, wholesalers, retailers, cold storage operators, and transporters, are required to ensure full and accurate labelling of all food products. Failure to comply will result in severe legal consequences,” the order stated.
In line with the new directives, food safety authorities have vowed to carry out random checks across marketplaces in Jammu and Kashmir. This is aimed at ensuring that no unlabelled or improperly packaged food reaches consumers. On Saturday, Jammu and Kashmir police registered 12 FIRs in Anantnag district for violations of food safety laws, marking a continued effort by the authorities to enforce food safety standards.
Health Concerns Over Unlabelled Meat
Medical professionals have raised alarms about the potential dangers of consuming unlabelled and improperly stored meat. Masood Rashid, a Srinagar-based doctor, highlighted the health risks associated with such products. “The transportation of unlabelled meat, chicken, and their products is a serious breach of public trust. Often, such meat is stored using formalin, a carcinogenic chemical formerly used in hospitals for fumigation. It is banned in many countries due to its harmful health effects, and its use in food is a grave concern,” Rashid stated.
The issue of unlabelled meat products, particularly those that may be preserved with dangerous chemicals, has become a significant public health concern in the region. The use of formalin, a chemical that has been linked to cancer and other health issues, has been a particular focus in the ongoing crackdown by food safety authorities.
Legal and Community Response
The Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has also taken cognizance of the issue following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by concerned citizens. The PIL urged the court to direct the state to take action against unregulated food businesses and safeguard the health of residents.
Food safety officials have promised that they will continue to intensify checks across various regions of the Valley to ensure that the food sold in markets meets the safety standards set by law. As the crackdown intensifies, authorities are also calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or unlabelled food products.
With mounting public pressure and a series of legal actions, the Jammu and Kashmir government appears determined to tackle the rampant sale of unlabelled and unsafe food products in the region, ensuring better food safety standards for the people of the Valley.
