Srinagar: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) expresses deep concern and outrage over the seizure of 1,200 kilograms of rotten meat by the Food Safety Department from a cold storage facility operating within the Zakura Industrial Estate, Srinagar.
The meat was reportedly meant for distribution to hotels and restaurants across the Valley. This shocking discovery has triggered serious alarm among consumers and businesses alike, as the consumption of such contaminated meat could have led to widespread foodborne illnesses and even fatalities, KCCI said in a statement.
KCCI finds it completely unacceptable that a unit dealing in perishable food items was allowed to operate from a textile-dedicated industrial estate, it said, adding that this raises serious questions about how such a facility was permitted in the first place, whether it had proper registration or clearance, and who is accountable for this glaring oversight.
The Chamber demands immediate and exemplary action against the unit holder responsible for storing the rotten meat. It is critical that the authorities identify whether this was an isolated case of negligence or part of a larger unregulated supply chain that is slipping past inspection frameworks.
The situation reveals a dangerous gap in the regulatory and certification mechanisms governing the entry and handling of frozen meat in Jammu and Kashmir. It is appalling that such a large consignment was able to enter the Valley without proper scrutiny, raising doubts about enforcement at major checkpoints like Lakhanpur. There appears to be no functioning system to ensure that meat or similar high-risk perishables are examined, documented, and certified by competent authorities before being allowed into the region.
This incident has justifiably created panic among citizens who are now questioning the quality and safety of food being consumed in homes, eateries, and hotels.
The trust that consumers place in food businesses has been deeply shaken. It is not simply a lapse in food safety but a grave public health threat and a breach of basic consumer rights. The Chamber strongly urges the administration to conduct a time-bound and transparent probe into this matter, to make the findings public, and to fix responsibility at every level — from those involved in the supply and storage of the meat to those who failed to prevent its entry and unchecked distribution.
More importantly, the entry of frozen meat into Kashmir must be stringently monitored, with robust inspection protocols put in place at the border, particularly at Lakhanpur, to ensure that only properly certified and safely transported consignments are allowed into the Valley.
This is not a minor regulatory lapse—it is a potential death trap. Had this stock made its way to consumers, the consequences would have been catastrophic. KCCI urges the government to act decisively to prevent a recurrence.
The Chamber also appeals to the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspected unsafe food practices, while assuring the business community that it will continue to advocate for safe, ethical, and transparent trade practices in Kashmir.
