The Biz Reporter
Srinagar, Aug 10: Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) has expressed deep alarm over the growing menace of sub-standard and rotten meat being supplied and sold across the Valley, describing it as a direct threat to public health and a gross violation of consumer trust. The Chamber has called for stringent, deterrent and exemplary punishment to be imposed on those involved in such unsafe practices, as well as on those who knowingly pass such products to consumers.
The recent seizure of 1,200 kilograms of rotten meat in Zakura has brought the issue into sharp focus. The Chamber immediately took up the matter with the concerned authorities and ensured that an FIR was registered at Zakura Police Station against those involved.
However, this incident is only one among many. Across Kashmir, enforcement agencies have uncovered thousands of kilograms of rotten meat, stale fish, and low-cost dressed chicken unfit for human consumption across Kashmir.
In several cases, these products were found to be treated with colouring agents to make them appear fresh. Such chemicals are known to be carcinogenic, adding a dangerous long-term health risk to an already alarming situation.
The Chamber has also raised concerns over the absence of any certification to confirm whether the meat being sold is halal or not. In the absence of proper verification and certification mechanisms, consumers are left in doubt about the source, slaughtering process, and overall quality of the meat available in markets.
This lack of transparency not only raises religious and ethical concerns but further undermines public confidence in the meat supply chain.
These recoveries have heightened public anxiety. The Chamber has underlined that such practices are not mere lapses in quality control but deliberate acts that endanger lives for profit, undermining the very trust on which legitimate trade is built.
The issue is further compounded by the influx of uncertified, low-cost dressed chicken from outside the Valley. This practice not only raises serious food safety concerns but also causes heavy financial losses to local poultry farmers.
The Chamber has demanded an immediate ban on the import of such chicken..
While urging authorities to clamp down on such illegal practices without leniency.
Restoring consumer confidence, it said, requires a coordinated effort between the authorities, the business community, and the public to ensure strict adherence to food safety standards.
KCC&I has maintained that the safety, health, and trust of the people must take precedence over all other considerations, and those who compromise these values through the sale of unsafe and adulterated products must face the strictest possible legal consequences.
