KCCI demands stringent action after 1,200 Kg of rotten meat seized in Zakura

Srinagar, Aug 2: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has expressed serious concern and outrage following 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 in Srinagar. The meat, reportedly intended for supply to hotels and restaurants across the Kashmir Valley, has sparked alarm among consumers and the business community alike.

In a statement issued here, KCCI described the discovery as a public health crisis in the making, warning that the consumption of such contaminated meat could have led to widespread foodborne illnesses or even fatalities.

The Chamber questioned how a facility dealing in perishable food items was allowed to operate in an industrial estate originally designated for textile-related activities. It also raised concerns about whether the unit had proper registration, food safety clearance, or regulatory oversight. “This is a glaring lapse that cannot be brushed aside. It is unacceptable that such high-risk operations are being carried out without basic checks and balances,” the statement read.

KCCI called for immediate and exemplary action against the unit holder found responsible for storing the rotten meat. It said that authorities must investigate whether this was a one-off incident or part of a larger pattern involving an unregulated supply chain that is evading food safety inspections and import checks.

The Chamber further highlighted a serious loophole in the current inspection mechanism, questioning how such a large consignment of frozen meat could have entered the Valley unchecked. The statement pointed particularly to the Lakhanpur entry point, where, according to KCCI, no effective system seems to be in place for screening meat or other high-risk perishables.

This incident, the Chamber noted, has created justifiable panic among the public. “People are now questioning what they are being served in hotels and eateries, and whether what reaches their homes is even safe. This is not just a failure of regulation—it is a breach of consumer trust and a grave public health threat,” the statement said.

KCCI urged the government to initiate a transparent and time-bound probe into the entire incident. It demanded that the findings be made public and that accountability be fixed at every level, from those handling the meat to those responsible for monitoring its entry and distribution.

It also called on the administration to enforce stricter regulations for the import and handling of frozen meat and similar items. The Chamber said that all consignments entering the Valley should be subject to documentation, health certification, and visual inspection by qualified personnel at border checkpoints.

Calling the situation “a potential death trap,” KCCI stressed that the government must act decisively to prevent any recurrence. It also appealed to the public to remain alert and report any instances of unsafe food practices, adding that the Chamber remains committed to advocating for ethical, safe, and accountable trade in Jammu and Kashmir.