The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Aug 8: Kashmir Trade Alliance (KTA) has strongly condemned the alarming practice of supplying rotten meat to food outlets across the valley and demanded that all persons involved in this dangerous trade be booked under the Public Safety Act.
In a statement issued here, President of Kashmir Trade Alliance, Aijaz Shahdhar, expressed grave concern over the deteriorating food safety standards and described the situation as a “health emergency” that requires immediate intervention from authorities.
“The supply of rotten and contaminated meat to food outlets has created a health emergency-like situation in Kashmir. Even one bite of this rotten meat can lead to serious diseases and health complications. This is precisely why we are witnessing an alarming increase in various diseases among our population,” said Shahdhar.
Shahdhar emphasised that this malpractice not only poses serious health risks to consumers but also damages the reputation of the entire food industry in Kashmir. “Innocent customers who visit food outlets with trust are being served contaminated meat, which is completely unacceptable and amounts to playing with public health,” he added.
Kashmir Trade Alliance has demanded that the concerned authorities, including the Food Safety Department, Health Department, and local administration, take immediate cognisance of this matter and launch a comprehensive crackdown against suppliers and vendors involved in this illegal practice.
“We urge the government to conduct surprise raids at meat supply centres, storage facilities, and food outlets to identify those involved in supplying substandard and rotten meat. We demand that all persons found guilty of selling rotten meat should be booked under the Public Safety Act, as they are endangering public health and safety. The health of people cannot be compromised for profit,” Shahdhar stated.
The trade body has also called upon food outlet owners to ensure they source meat only from certified and reliable suppliers who maintain proper hygiene and storage standards. KTA warned that any food establishment found using contaminated meat would face strong opposition from the trade community.
“We appeal to all food outlet owners to prioritise customer health over profit margins. It is their moral and legal responsibility to ensure that only fresh and quality meat is served to customers,” Shahdhar emphasised.
