Key Development

Weeks after concerns over the sale of “rotten” meat surfaced in Kashmir, the Food Safety Department has widened its enforcement action and placed several food products under scrutiny. Authorities have banned the sale of Ajwa packaged drinking water after laboratory tests found the product unsafe for consumption.

The department sent samples to the National Food Testing Laboratory in Ghaziabad, which detected E. coli and coliform bacteria. Citing public health and consumer safety, officials ordered an immediate halt to the sale, storage, distribution, and display of the brand. This action follows a ban imposed last month on Snowdrop packaged drinking water, after tests reportedly revealed the presence of arsenic, raising serious health concerns.

Biscuit Brand Barred for Excess Sulphite Levels

The Food Safety Department has also prohibited the sale and use of Butter Delite biscuits, manufactured under the Priyagold brand. Laboratory analysis of a specific batch found sulphite levels exceeding permissible limits, prompting authorities to withdraw the product from the market.

Concerns Raised Over Drug Residues in Eggs

Food safety concerns escalated further after National Conference legislator Tanvir Sadiq flagged reports of nitrofuran and nitroimidazole residues in eggs sold in the Valley. He urged the J&K Health Minister and Consumer Affairs Minister to order immediate sampling and testing, noting that these drugs are banned in food-producing animals due to their carcinogenic and toxic effects.

Market Inspections Intensified After Rotten Meat Seizures

Authorities have intensified market inspections following the recovery of large quantities of rotten, unlabeled meat supplied to the Valley. The incident triggered widespread public outrage and disrupted the local restaurant industry, raising serious questions about food sourcing and regulation. The Food Safety Department’s limited public communication on the meat investigation has drawn criticism. Valley chief cleric and Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for transparency, stating that the public deserves clear answers. He urged the administration to disclose investigation findings and outline corrective measures taken to strengthen food safety enforcement.

Source: The Indian Express