Crackdown on Unsafe Food

The recent spate of seizures of unsafe meat and other food products in Jammu and Kashmir has exposed a disturbing vulnerability in the region’s public health safeguards, one that demands both urgent redress and sustainable reform. The decision to combine institutional strengthening, rigorous legal enforcement, and infrastructure expansion as a strategic framework to counter unsafe food practices is not merely an administrative necessity; it is a moral imperative. For too long, the food safety apparatus has been reactive rather than preventive, stepping in only after violations have already reached consumers’ plates. What is now being proposed has the potential to shift the system towards proactive vigilance, ensuring that the sanctity of the food chain is preserved from source to sale.

The Food Safety and Drugs Organization, which has long been tasked with monitoring compliance, must be adequately resourced, staffed, and empowered to act without delay. Announcements to establish food testing laboratories in every district, rather than restricting them to Jammu and Srinagar, signal a decisive break from the centralized model that has hampered swift action. When testing facilities are within easy reach of local enforcement teams, inspections can translate into immediate verification, enabling authorities to remove unsafe products from circulation before they cause harm. Equally important is the proposed establishment of entry-point check posts at Lakhanpur and Qazigund. These will serve as critical barriers against the import of contaminated or unhygienic perishables, especially mutton, poultry, and dairy products that, if unchecked, can carry serious health risks into homes across the Union Territory. Legal enforcement will be the decisive lever for change. The Food Safety & Standards Act provides ample provisions for punitive action, but the true test lies in consistent, impartial application. Exemplary punishment for serious offenders will send an unmistakable signal that endangering public health is a crime that carries consequences too severe to be ignored. The emphasis on initiating criminal proceedings against willful violators is not vindictive—it is a deterrent, designed to ensure that unscrupulous traders think twice before cutting corners. The call for registration and licensing of all food vendors, distributors, and traders is another critical step. Bringing the entire supply network under a formal regulatory framework allows for traceability, making it harder for violators to hide behind anonymity and easier for authorities to pinpoint sources of contamination. Infrastructure expansion is more than a matter of physical assets; it is about creating the operational backbone for enforcement. Mobile food testing vans, when deployed across districts, will enable surprise checks in markets, roadside stalls, and storage facilities, ensuring that inspections are not confined to urban centers. Cold chain management—ensuring that meat and dairy are transported and stored at appropriate temperatures—must become non-negotiable, and facilities lacking proper refrigeration should be barred from operating. It is encouraging that the proposed measures include verifying safe sourcing of meat, maintaining cold chains, and auditing storage facilities for compliance. These are not cosmetic improvements but structural requirements for a safe and trustworthy food supply. Public awareness and community cooperation will be equally vital to the success of this campaign. While government action is indispensable, consumers are the final line of defense. Educating the public to demand quality, check for proper labeling, and report suspicious products will ensure that unsafe practices are met with both official and societal resistance. Mechanisms such as the proposed “Dial 104” reporting system, if well-publicized and responsive, can empower citizens to become active participants in safeguarding their own health. However, the success of such mechanisms will depend on prompt and transparent follow-up, ensuring that complaints do not disappear into bureaucratic inertia. There is also a need for balance in enforcement. The majority of traders and vendors who comply with safety regulations should not be subjected to unnecessary harassment. Clear protocols for inspections, coordination with the police for targeted raids, and respect for due process will preserve trust between the business community and enforcement agencies. At the same time, habitual offenders must be weeded out without hesitation, for their continued presence undermines both consumer confidence and the credibility of the regulatory system. The presence of harmful synthetic additives, unauthorised colouring agents, and unhygienic handling practices is not merely a regulatory breach—it is a public health hazard of the highest order. Addressing it requires more than punitive measures; it requires a systemic overhaul that closes loopholes, invests in scientific capacity, and embeds food safety into the culture of governance.

A clean and trustworthy food supply is as fundamental to a society’s well-being as security or infrastructure. It safeguards not just the health of individuals, but the confidence of communities in the systems meant to protect them. This is a fight worth waging, not sporadically, but as an enduring commitment to public welfare.