Exemplary punishment awaits those selling unsafe food: CM Omar Abdullah
In the wake of mounting fears about food safety, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today issued a warning of exemplary punishment for those found selling unsafe food.
Omar today presided over a high-level meeting to review the ongoing campaign on enforcement of food safety following recent seizures of unsafe meat and meat products, especially in the Kashmir Valley, an official spokesperson said.
In the past decade, the Food and Drugs Administration has destroyed close to 4000 kg of “unhygienic and unsafe” meat and poultry following their inability to meet the requirements for consumption.
The Chief Minister directed exemplary punitive action against those found storing or selling unsafe food, emphasizing that offenders posing risks to public health must be prosecuted under the relevant provisions of the Food Safety & Standards Act.
He called for criminal proceedings against the most serious violators.
“The grave problem appears to have remained unchecked and unnoticed for too long. The unscrupulous elements have played with the health and lives of people. This has to stop and those deliberately involved in playing with public health must face the law.” The Chief Minister said.
“I appreciate the officials for launching the drive and exposing the dangerous rot in our food chain. There can be no compromise on public health and the drive will continue.
“There will be an audit of the departments concerned and the mechanism to stop the import, sale and use of unhygienic meat and other food items,” CM said.
To tighten quality control, the Chief Minister ordered the establishment of entry-point check posts and testing laboratories at Lakhanpur and Qazigund to screen mutton, chicken, and other perishable items entering Jammu & Kashmir.
He further directed that food testing laboratories be set up at every district headquarters, instead of limiting such facilities to Jammu and Srinagar, thereby significantly enhancing the Government’s enforcement capacity. No meat should be sold and used without proper clearance.
The Chief Minister also emphasized that the Food Safety and Drugs Organization would be further strengthened to ensure rigorous monitoring and swift action against violations.
The Chief Minister further instructed intensified inspection drives across all districts, with deputy commissioners personally leading surprise market checks to ensure strict compliance with prescribed hygiene and quality standards. All mobile food-testing vans are to be deployed immediately to support these operations.
While acknowledging the justified public and media concerns, the CM urged citizens to approach the authorities rather than taking law into their own hands.
He cautioned against vigilante actions and directed the Food Safety Department to follow due procedure, work with the police for surprise raids, and avoid harassment of traders who comply with safety regulations.
Departments have been instructed to verify that meat supplies originate from safe sources, that the cold chain is maintained, and that cold stores are equipped with deep-freezing facilities. The CM took serious note of the use of harmful chemicals, unauthorized synthetic additives, and coloring agents, stressing their potential health hazards.
Health experts, including the director of SKIMS and the principal of GMC Srinagar, briefed the meeting on the ill-effects of food adulteration and the health risks posed by unsafe food, urging changes in food habits to reduce the rising incidence of chronic illnesses.
Secretary of Health and Medical Education Abid Rashid Shah announced a 30-day action plan to address food safety concerns in Jammu and Kashmir, which includes mapping all food businesses and vendors, conducting intensified inspection drives, launching public reporting campaigns through the “Dial 104” helpline, engaging communities in awareness initiatives, and setting up entry check posts at Lakhanpur and Qazigund to monitor the inflow of food products.
