No compromise on food quality, culprits won’t be spared: Satish Sharma
Srinagar, Aug 08: Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs Minister Satish Sharma on Friday assured that no one in Jammu and Kashmir will be allowed to sell adulterated or rotten meat and poultry. He said a large-scale crackdown has been initiated to identify and punish those involved in this illegal trade.
As reported by the news agency KNO, Sharma said food samples will be collected from every outlet — ranging from luxury hotels to roadside eateries and strict action will be taken against offenders. “In the past couple of days, we have identified certain suppliers and hoteliers involved in this racket. Whether they are suppliers, manufacturers, or traders, they will face the full consequences,” he said.
A high-level team is being formed to create a robust strategy to prevent the sale of rotten meat. Sharma added that he had held a meeting with the Health and Agriculture Ministers, as well as stakeholders from the poultry sector and food department, to discuss the issue.
Over the past week, Food Safety Department officials have seized large quantities of unfit meat during raids at various locations in Kashmir. Just two days ago, spoiled chicken meat was confiscated in Srinagar. The traders involved claimed the meat spoiled due to lack of cold storage, but authorities highlighted the serious health risks of consuming meat stored without proper refrigeration.
ROTTEN RICE SEIZED IN SUMBAL
In a separate incident, a large stock of foul-smelling rice was recovered from a Food Corporation of India (FCI) warehouse in Sumbal, Bandipora. The rice had reportedly been transported from Punjab to the Valley.
Sharma said the spoiled rice was detected before entering the Public Distribution System (PDS). “Items in FCI warehouses undergo at least three checks, and any spoiled stock is returned. In this case, the rice appears to have spoiled during transit. An investigation is underway to determine the cause. So far, none of it has been distributed, and strict action will be taken against those responsible. Quality is our top priority — this is our staple food,” he said.
