SRINGAR: The Jammu Kashmir government has said that more than 11,600 kilograms of suspected rotten and adulterated meat have been seized and destroyed across various districts of the Union Territory since July 31, 2025. The disclosure was made in response to a question by MLA Mubarak Gul in the Legislative Assembly.
The Health and Medical Education Department said the seizures followed a series of surprise inspections and enforcement actions against Food Business Operators (FBOs) dealing in meat and meat products. It said the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, does not provide for the filing of First Information Reports in such cases, but appropriate penal and regulatory action has been initiated against violators as per the law.
Since July 2025, the department has conducted 1,430 inspections of meat dealers and cold storage units across Jammu Kashmir. Following these inspections, 102 improvement notices were issued and 14 licences suspended for violations of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
In addition, public notices were issued to all FBOs handling frozen raw meat and meat products on August 1 and August 20 this year, warning them of strict compliance requirements. A prohibition order issued on October 3 restricted the manufacture, storage, transportation, and sale of frozen or chilled meat products not conforming to Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) norms.
A major case of violation was reported on August 9 when food safety officers raided a cold storage facility operated by M/S AS Enterprises at Haji Bagh, HMT, Srinagar. Acting on a tip-off, the officials discovered around 1,600 kilograms of raw meat and 1,500 kilograms of semi-cooked kebabs stored under unhygienic conditions. The products, found to be unfit for consumption, were immediately seized and later destroyed in the presence of police and food safety officials.
Investigations revealed that the raw meat consignment belonged to one Manzoor Ahmad of Bemina, Srinagar, while the semi-cooked products were linked to Zaffar Foods, an industrial unit based in Zainakote. Following the raids, cases were filed under the relevant provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, and a penalty of Rs 1,40,000 was imposed by the Adjudicating Officer.
The government said changes introduced at the Lakhanpur and Lower Munda check-posts — where most perishable consignments enter the Union Territory — are part of a policy shift from traditional physical checkpoints to a technology-enabled, risk-based enforcement model. This, it said, is aimed at improving regulatory efficiency and trade transparency.
The department also said it has launched special inspection drives and public awareness campaigns to encourage the sale and consumption of hygienic meat, while strengthening inter-departmental coordination and intelligence-based enforcement to deter future violations.
“The government remains committed to ensuring that only wholesome and safe meat reaches consumers,” the statement said, adding that all cases of adulteration or unsafe handling are being dealt with strictly under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
