Food adulteration and Health concerns

Kashmir was once known as an abode of Sufis, Saints and Reshis. The people had simple living and would live together with love and affection. They were helpful to each other and their neighbours irrespective of caste creed and religion.  These traditional traits were visible till the end of 80’s of last century. I feel that we are at the lowest ebb of moral and ethical degeneration. The recent news regarding the seizure of rotten meat by the officials of Food Safety department of J&K from Zakura made the headlines in social media and was welcomed by all. This was followed by the reports of dumping the similar kind of rotten meat of full truck loads on the main road sides at various places. This caused a great concern among the people.

The reports are that this is not an overnight mischievous activity of some anti social elements, playing with the lives of people but they have been indulging in this unhealthy and dubious trade for over a period of time. The food safety department has disclosed that this rotten meat has been found packed without any labels of any registered company or store. The people are appreciating the actions of the concerned department for conducting raids in Srinagar and other places.

We are lucky to have now-a-days a full-fledged department of food safety. I remember in 1960s and 70s there used  to be a veterinary doctor posted in the then Srinagar Municipal Committee on deputation whose duty was to check whether the sheep or goat is healthy before they were slaughtered for human consumption in the slaughter house at Kani Kadal. The doctor would pass the animal for human consumption only when he found it healthy and would stamp it for sale. Such was the system of check and vigilance in those days to provide the hygienic mutton to people. The veterinary doctor would work under the health officer of SMC and no mutton dealer would dare to sell  meat without having his animal duly stamped.

We understand that the population of Srinagar city has increased manifold due to urbanisation, but that does not mean the concerned department would function with callousness and sleep over to check the source of supply and the places of storage. We had heard about adulteration being done in condiments and edible oil but never seen such an adulterated and unhygienic rotten meat and dressed chicken easily available to hotels, restaurants and road side eateries. It was only due to the cry of people on social media that the raids were conducted and rotten meat seized.

It is not only the consumption of this unhygienic rotten meat that is worrisome but it has its far reaching effect on health and wellbeing of people. We see that there is rush of patients in each and every hospital and health caring unit of the city. There are also reports that the food adulteration is one of the main causes of dreaded decease like cancer as it has been witnessed that there is a record increase in the cancer patients for last few years in the valley. The medical profession in Kashmir has become the most cherished profession just like the pharmaceutical business has grown as the most profitable business.

The raids conducted so far, no doubt encouraging, but this is a temporary measure as these raids should continue to sustain so that these are regularly conducted, market and area wise, indiscriminately as a surprise throughout the year so that the culprits do not escape by getting the prior information if leaked inadvertently or deliberately. It is not only the responsibility of food safety department but it is also the responsibility of  other departments  like SMC, police, traffic police  and health departments to be vigilant and keep an eagle’s eye on the activities of these anti social elements who in the greed of collecting illegal wealth indulge in such a nefarious activities. But role of general public cannot be ignored.

They have to get awareness about the disastrous effects of food adulteration on their health and have to keep their eyes open on these persons who have no fear of Allah and respect for their fellow-human beings. The law makers have also to play a role in curbing such heinous crime by enacting a strict law against  adulteration like death penalty or least life imprisonment to prove as deterrent besides seizure of their property and assets accumulated from ill-gotten money after indulging in such activities and dealing in this type of trade.

But one question arises; why leaders of all political parties here, have not expressed any concern about this inhuman activity of transporting, dumping supplying and selling adulterated and rotten meat. Though, of late the local food minister addressed a press conference. But some questions remain unanswered. It is not a normal crime.

Who are the suppliers and companies responsible for bringing this meat into Kashmir?

From which locations within and outside J&K was meat sourced?

Which transporters and vehicles were used to carry it?

Where were the cold storages and warehouses that stored this meat before distribution? When was the last inspection of these storages held?

What is the status of records of Toll posts at Lakhanpur and Lower Munda Qazigund regarding the entry of such vehicles which carried this meat?

To take public into confidence, we hope the Hon’ble  C.M and Hon’ble food minister will do all in their capacity and hold a thorough probe into the matter of public importance.