Srinagar, March 14: Despite last year’s major rotten meat controversy, unlabelled frozen chicken continues to enter Kashmir Valley markets, raising fresh concerns about food safety standards and enforcement of regulations.
Authorities in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district have seized and sealed around 200 kilograms of frozen boneless chicken that was brought from outside the region for sale in local markets.
The consignment, officials said, was found without mandatory labelling details such as manufacturing and expiry dates, which are required under food safety regulations.
Officials said the frozen chicken had been transported from Delhi and was intercepted during an inspection drive conducted by the Food Safety Department in the district.
“The consignment did not mention the manufacturing and expiry dates, which is a violation of food safety norms,” an official associated with the inspection said.
Authorities said the entire consignment was sealed after discrepancies were found in the labelling of the product.
Officials added that an investigation has been initiated to determine how the unlabelled poultry product was brought into the Valley and supplied to local markets.
They said legal action will be taken against the trader involved under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Officials also noted that inspection drives have been intensified in view of increased food consumption during the holy month of Ramadan, when demand for poultry and other food items rises significantly.
The latest seizure comes months after authorities across Kashmir seized large quantities of rotten and unsafe meat during inspection drives in various districts of the Valley last year.
Those incidents had triggered widespread public concern and led to calls for stricter monitoring of food supplies entering the region.
Despite those enforcement actions, locals say improperly labelled food products continue to surface in markets, highlighting persistent gaps in monitoring supply chains.
Authorities warned traders and suppliers to strictly follow food safety norms while transporting and selling food products in the Valley.
Officials also urged consumers to remain vigilant and check product labelling, including manufacturing and expiry dates, before purchasing frozen or packaged food items.
Further inspection drives are expected to continue across different districts to ensure that food items sold in markets comply with prescribed safety standards. [KNT]
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