| Rotten mutton, chicken, fish smuggled into Kashmir; synthetic cheese supplied in Jammu | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Nov 15: The threat of a network of food adulterators and illegal traders, who are jeopardizing people’s health, is growing in Jammu and Kashmir. While attempts are being made to smuggle rotten mutton, chicken, and fish from other states into markets, hotels, and restaurants in the Kashmir Valley, the seizure of a large consignment of synthetic and adulterated cheese in the Jammu division has raised serious questions about the activities of an interstate syndicate involved in the illegal supply of food items.
The latest incident occurred at Budgam railway station in central Kashmir, where the Railway Police seized approximately 1,600 kg of rotten meat from a parcel train arriving from Delhi on November 14. The meat was packed in 44 cartons.
According to officials, there was neither adequate refrigeration nor dry ice used to keep the meat at the prescribed temperature. Veterinary officials, after inspection, declared the consignment unfit for human consumption. The Railway Police have registered an FIR and launched an investigation.
The day after this incident, reports emerged of the seizure of approximately 400 kilograms of rotten meat at the Budgam railway station. The seizure of nearly two tons of unsafe meat in two consecutive days has raised serious questions about the inspection and monitoring system for food items coming into the Valley.
This is not the first time a large consignment of rotten meat has been seized in the Kashmir Valley. Last year, approximately 1,200 kilograms of rotten meat was recovered during a Food Safety Department raid in Srinagar’s Zakura Industrial Area. Subsequent raids and inspections were conducted in various parts of the Valley. Large quantities of spoiled mutton, chicken, and other meat products were seized during these operations.
During the investigation, serious questions were raised at several locations regarding the supply and storage of meat products allegedly destined for hotels, dhabas, restaurants, and catering businesses. In addition to spoiled and unsafe meat, the Food Safety Officers’ actions also revealed instances of the use of banned colors in some prepared foods.
The severity of this problem can be gauged from the fact that Health Minister Sakina Ittoo informed the Assembly in February 2026 that in the financial year 2025-26, through December 2025, over 12,183 kilograms of rotten meat had been destroyed in Jammu and Kashmir, while an additional 2,139 kilograms of meat had been seized. During the same period, 7,665 kilograms of cheese was seized and destroyed in Ja Interstate syndicates are targeting people’s health, with frequent seizures of unsafe food items; last year, 12,183 kg of rotten meat and 7,665 kg of adulterated cheese were seized
On the other hand, the issue of supply of synthetic and adulterated cheese in the Jammu division is no less serious. In July last year, Jammu police seized approximately 800 kilograms of allegedly adulterated cheese from a bus traveling from Delhi to Katra. Three people were arrested in the case. Police described it as a major action against a network supplying counterfeit cheese.
Just a few weeks later, on August 23, 2025, the Food Safety Department raided a warehouse in the Babliana area of Jammu’s Gangyal region and seized 21 quintals of suspected adulterated cheese. The consignment had arrived at the Jammu railway station from Ambala, and after receiving information from the Railway Police, officials tracked it and reached the warehouse. In the same operation, 78 tins of mustard oil, which had expired in 2023, were also seized. According to officials, the warehouse in question was not registered for the storage of food items.
In October 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir government took strict action against adulterated cheese, issuing an order banning the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, and transportation of loose cheese containing foreign fat or vegetable fat. Laboratory tests revealed the presence of beta-sitosterol in some samples, indicating the use of vegetable fats other than milk.
In September 2026, 20 bags of suspected adulterated cheese were recovered from a bus at the Greater Kailash checkpoint in Jammu. The Food Safety Department initiated the process of testing the samples.
These increasingly emerging cases indicate that some consignments of meat and dairy products supplied to Jammu and Kashmir from other states are not complying with prescribed food safety standards. While a single organized syndicate has not yet been confirmed, it is necessary to investigate the arrival of consignments from outside states and their local storage and distribution in individual cases.
The biggest question is: how are such consignments coming from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, and other states being transported without proper temperature control, packaging, bills, veterinary certificates, and food safety documents? Why is such supply through railways, road transport, and local markets not effectively monitored?
According to food safety experts, not storing meat at the prescribed temperature can lead to the rapid growth of harmful microorganisms. Similarly, adulteration of cheese with non-dairy fats and other unauthorized substances poses a serious threat to consumer health. |
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