Srinagar, August 8, 2025 — Widespread panic has engulfed Kashmir following the seizure of more than 3,500 kilograms of rotten and unlabelled meat across multiple districts, raising serious concerns about food safety, public health, and regulatory oversight in the region.
The Food Safety Department, in coordination with the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO), launched a series of raids beginning July 31. The largest haul came from an industrial estate in Zakura, Srinagar, where 1,200 kg of decomposed meat was found stored without refrigeration or labeling, allegedly intended for distribution to restaurants and street food vendors.
Subsequent raids uncovered additional consignments dumped in marshlands, roadsides, and water bodies in areas such as Nowgam, Ganderbal, and Pulwama. Officials suspect that unscrupulous traders, fearing detection, resorted to discarding the meat in public spaces. In total, over 3,000 kg of rotten meat was recovered in just one week.
The crackdown also led to the destruction of 2,500 kebabs processed with frozen meat and illegal food coloring, along with 150 kg of meatballs (Gushtaba) found in unhygienic conditions. Two food business operators in Ganderbal had their premises sealed for violating hygiene norms.
FDA Commissioner Smiti Sethi described the situation as a grave public health threat, noting that some packages were too foul-smelling to open. The seizures have prompted fears of foodborne illnesses and a spike in gastro-related ailments across the Valley.
The scandal has triggered outrage among residents, civil society groups, and religious leaders. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, delivering his Friday sermon at Jama Masjid Srinagar, condemned the act as a betrayal of public trust and a violation of religious and legal norms. He demanded strict accountability and halal certification for all meat products sold in the Valley.
In response, the Grand Mufti of Jammu and Kashmir, Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam, issued a fatwa declaring the consumption of the seized meat and related products as haram (forbidden), urging the public to avoid frozen and processed meat of uncertain origin.
Authorities have intensified inspections at entry points such as Lakhanpur and Qazigund, and investigations are underway to trace the supply chain and prosecute those responsible under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The incident has sparked calls for systemic reform in food safety enforcement and greater transparency in meat sourcing and distribution across Kashmir.
