J&K government grapples with stinky meat problem, seizes around four tonnes of unsafe mutton 

The J&K government is grappling with a stinky mass supply of rotten meat and poultry into the Kashmir valley apparently for eateries. The meat-lovers’ paradise saw around four tonnes of rotten meat either dumped or sealed in the past one week, sparking protests from locals.

Officials said there has been a growing seizure of “unhygienic and unsafe” meat as well as poultry in the past one week. The figures of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) suggested that 3,500 kg was destroyed after failing the standards necessary for consumption.

A Valley-wide crackdown was sparked after 1,200 kilograms of rotten meat was seized by the Food Safety Department from a cold storage facility operating within the Zakura Industrial Estate in Srinagar on August 2.

Official figures suggested that Kashmir consumes 60,000 tonnes of mutton annually and half of the supplies come from outside.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), an amalgam of traders, said the seizure of rotten meat has set alarm bells among consumers and the business community alike. The footfall at Valley restaurants has dropped because of the fear of eating unsafe meat. “There is a 75% drop in consumers at Khayam, the hub of steak sellers in Srinagar,” Khalid Jan, a steak seller said. 

 The KCCI said the discovery is a public health crisis in the making. “Such contaminated meat could have led to widespread foodborne illnesses or even fatalities. It is unacceptable that such high-risk operations are being carried out without basic checks and balances,” the KCCI said.

The KCCI said the seizure of rotten meat was not just a failure of regulation but a breach of consumer trust. “The government should initiate a transparent and time-bound probe into the entire incident. The findings should be made public and that accountability be fixed at every level, from those handling the meat to those responsible for monitoring its entry and distribution,” the KCCI said.

However, the government is grappling to contain the supply of rotten meat to consumers. The Food Safety team, led by the Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, recovered approximately 400 kg of “unspecified frozen meat deemed unfit for human consumption and destroyed on the spot” on Friday (August 8, 2025). “The 150 kg was seized for further investigation,” the government spokesperson said.

The government has set up a toll free number where consumers are requested to lodge complaints regarding the food that is being served to them.

Facing a public outcry over the growing cases of rotten meats unravelled by the authorities in the past, Kashmir’s chief cleric too focused the Friday sermon on the problem.

“Over 3,500 kilograms of rotten, unlabelled, and possibly unlawful meat was seized from various locations in Kashmir. Feeding people haram or harmful food is a grave injustice. Such actions are a betrayal of public trust and a violation of both divine commandments, societal contract, and law. Those involved must be held fully accountable and strictly penalised and punished as per law without delay,” Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said in the sermon.

He said the government must act with urgency and firmness and that no packed meat should be allowed in the markets without clear and mandatory labelling, verified cold storage details, and halal certification.

Grand Mufti of J&K Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam has issued a fatwa declaring the consumption and sale of Haram (forbidden) meat or earning a livelihood through it as strictly prohibited under Islam.

Kashmir’s grand mufti Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam also issued a fatwa. “Consuming Haram food or earning money by selling prohibited items is Haram and unacceptable. People should avoid taking momos and purchase kebabs, dressed chicken, and other meat products only from verified sources,” the decree said.

Warning against storage of adulterated meat

Meanwhile, Satish Sharma, Minister of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, said, “Those who will try to play with the lives of people will not be spared. We have to scientifically approach the problem. Teams have picked up samples across J&K. The suppliers whether local or outsider responsible from Punjab or Delhi will not be spared”.

The Minister issued a strong warning. “Those involved in the storage, usage, or trade of adulterated meat are putting lives at risk. This is not a minor violation—it is a criminal act. I want to make it absolutely clear: the government will take strict and immediate punitive action against all offenders, including sealing of premises, cancellation of licenses and prosecution under relevant food safety and public health laws.”

He also condemned the practice by some violators of dumping spoiled meat in abandoned places to evade penalties, calling it an unacceptable and dangerous tactic that will not shield them from legal consequences.

Mr. Sharma directed the enforcement squads to maintain heightened vigilance, especially in sensitive areas, and to carry out round-the-clock surprise inspections of high-risk establishments. He instructed that supply chain tracking be used to identify and dismantle entire networks engaged in the adulterated meat trade, from suppliers to retailers.

Published – August 09, 2025 06:58 am IST