SRINAGAR, Aug 8: The Jammu and Kashmir Food Safety Department has seized and destroyed thousands of kilograms of meat in recent days, all of which officials say failed to meet cold-chain and labelling requirements.
The enforcement drive targets meat that is improperly labelled, uncertified, or transported and stored without the mandatory temperature-controlled cold chain. Without frozen transport at minus 18°C from processing to the consumer, meat spoils, it added,
In the past week alone, officials destroyed eight quintals of spoiled meat in Jammu. Today 2.5 quintals of meat were disposed of across the Valley. On 1st August, a raid in Zakura Industrial Estate uncovered a 12-quintal consignment of decomposed meat, which was disposed of under safety protocols.
It said some suppliers, facing increased scrutiny, have resorted to dumping unsafe meat on roadsides to avoid being caught. With police assistance, Govt ensured the safe disposal of these as well.
In recent days, inspectors destroyed around 2,500 kebabs containing prohibited colours and fined violators Rs 56,000. The action covered both restaurants and roadside vendors, with warnings that stricter enforcement will continue.
Govt urged the people to report unsafe food through the toll-free number 104.
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