Rotten Meat Scandal in J&K: A Wake-Up Call for Public Health and Accountability

The recent seizure of over 12,000 kilograms of rotten, adulterated, and unhygienically stored meat across Jammu and Kashmir is both a wake-up call and a grim reminder of the vulnerabilities in our food supply chain. The findings — including kebabs tainted with synthetic colours and expired meat stored in deplorable conditions — reveal not just isolated incidents of negligence but a systemic failure to safeguard public health. When the very food we consume becomes a vehicle for disease, the issue transcends market regulation; it becomes a matter of life and death.

The Food and Drug Administration, along with other departments, deserves credit for the swift and coordinated crackdown. Joint inspection teams, covering both Kashmir and Jammu divisions, have shown that enforcement can be both wide-reaching and effective when multiple agencies work together. Yet, it is hard to ignore the elephant in the room: why did it take so long for such comprehensive inspections to be implemented? Public outrage is justified, for this is not a problem that emerged overnight. For years, unsafe meat has quietly entered markets, putting countless people at risk, while oversight mechanisms either failed or remained dormant.

The political response, with leaders like Omar Abdullah and Sakina Itoo demanding stricter enforcement, signals a positive shift in prioritising food safety. But political will must translate into long-term policy changes, not just reactive campaigns triggered by scandal. The need of the hour is a permanent, technology-backed inspection system — from the point of livestock entry into the region, through transport, storage, and retail — to ensure unfit meat never reaches consumers.

Equally important is public participation. Consumers must learn to identify suspicious products, demand transparency from sellers, and report violations. Awareness campaigns, stringent licensing, and real-time reporting systems can make a tangible difference. Moreover, punishments for offenders must be severe enough to deter future violations; playing with people’s health for profit is nothing short of criminal negligence.

Ultimately, the fight against unsafe meat is not just about confiscating contaminated stock; it is about rebuilding trust between the consumer and the marketplace. The crackdown in J&K is a step in the right direction, but its real measure of success will be in whether it leads to sustained change. A safe plate is not a privilege — it is a basic right, and one that must be protected with vigilance, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to public health.