KCCI demands harsh punishment for rotten meat dealers

Srinagar, Aug 10: The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCC&I) has expressed deep concern over the growing menace of sub-standard and rotten meat being supplied across the Valley, terming it a direct threat to public health and a gross breach of consumer trust. The Chamber has urged authorities to impose stringent, deterrent punishments on those engaged in such unsafe practices, as well as on those who knowingly allow these products to reach the market.

The recent seizure of 1,200 kilograms of rotten meat in Zakura has brought the crisis into sharp focus. KCC&I said it took up the matter with the concerned authorities, ensuring an FIR was registered at Zakura Police Station.

However, the Chamber warned that this was not an isolated incident. In recent weeks, enforcement agencies have confiscated thousands of kilograms of rotten meat, stale fish, and uncertified low-cost dressed chicken unfit for human consumption. In many cases, these products had been treated with colouring agents to make them appear fresh — chemicals which are known to be carcinogenic, posing serious long-term health risks.

KCC&I has also raised alarm over the lack of certification to confirm whether the meat being sold is halal. In the absence of proper verification and certification, consumers are left uncertain about the source, slaughtering process, and overall quality of the meat in the market. The Chamber said this not only raises religious and ethical concerns but further undermines public trust in the meat supply chain.

The influx of uncertified dressed chicken from outside the Valley has added to the crisis, causing both food safety concerns and heavy financial losses to local poultry farmers. KCC&I reiterated its demand for an immediate ban on the import of such chicken.

The Chamber stressed that these are not lapses in quality control but deliberate acts that endanger lives for profit, eroding the trust on which legitimate trade is built. It called for a coordinated effort between authorities, the business community, and the public to enforce strict food safety standards.

“KCC&I maintains that the safety, health, and trust of the people must take precedence over all other considerations, and those who compromise these values must face the strictest possible legal consequences,” the statement said.