Rehan Qayoom Mir
Srinagar, Aug 25: As the people await violators to be held accountable and face public scrutiny for selling rotten meat and other food products the much-awaited list is set to be made public within the next few days.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has intensified raids in Jammu and Kashmir, seizing 12,000 kg of meat, 21 quintals of synthetic cheese, and 440 quintals of Rasgulla ahead of the festival season.
Smita Sethi, Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration, J&K, said inspections are ongoing.
“Yesterday, a big raid was carried out in Jammu. Today, around 100 kg of synthetic cheese was seized, bringing the total seized products to 12,000 kg of meat, 21 quintals of cheese, and 440 quintals of Rasgulla,” she said.
She added that the Rasgulla’s were expired, torn, kept in cold storage in tins without packaging or labeling, and likely to flood markets. “They had no proper storage solution, so we destroyed them,” Sethi said.
On the meat supply chain and its movement to the Valley, she said it appears to be ‘smuggled’. “Yesterday’s cheese seizure came through railways after a tip-off from Railway Police. Rotten and expired oil in 78 tins was also recovered,” she said.
Commissioner Sethi added that the seized meat lacked proper storage conditions. “The owners have not disclosed the source. Some consignments have names associated, and we are trying to establish links, especially regarding the cheese,” she said.
She confirmed that investigations are progressing, and a “list of violators, including license details, will be published within a few days.”
Regarding food testing, Sethi said 12 reports have been received — four unsafe, four standard, and four in bad condition and unfit for consumption. “Unsafe samples contained only synthetic colors; no major harmful elements, viral or cancer-causing agents, were found,” she clarified.
The Commissioner assured that strict enforcement will continue to safeguard consumers across Jammu and Kashmir, with drives ongoing throughout the Union Territory. Notably, J&K FDA earlier ordered strict compliance with FSSAI rules for the sale of frozen meat and chicken products.
“Violators face fines up to Rs 10 lakh, seizure of stock, license cancellation, and even six years’ imprisonment under the Food Safety Act,” said an official.
