Rotten meat: Lasjan, Zakura, Anantnag emerge as hotspots, says FDA

Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has revealed that Srinagar’s Lasjan, Zakura and Qamarwari areas, along with Anantnag’s KP Road, Achabal and Kadipora, figured prominently in its ongoing crackdown on rotten meat, synthetic cheese and expired sweets.

According to the official list, nine food outlets across these localities have had their licenses suspended, including several prominent meat, poultry, sweet and fast-food establishments.

The suspended licences include several well-known establishments. In Srinagar, action has been taken against Al-Taqwa Foods in Lasjan, Aarif Enterprises at Bulbul Bagh Tengpora, Sunshine Foods at Zakura Industrial Estate, and Anmol Foods at Parimpora Ghat in Qamarwari.

In Anantnag, the list features Jubilant Food Works Limited which operates Domino’s Pizza on KP Road, along with Shaun Shahi Biryani on KP Road, Shan Fish Fry at Achabal Adda, Bismillah Sweets at the Industrial Estate, and Khanday Poultry at Kadipora.

The crackdown comes after FDA teams seized over 12,000 kg of rotten meat, 21 quintals of synthetic cheese and 440 quintals of expired rasgulla being pushed into markets ahead of the festival season.

The official list suggested that Srinagar and Anantnag have emerged as the main hotspots for such malpractice, adding that further investigations are underway and more establishments could face action.

The FDA has already warned that violators will face prosecution under the Food Safety Act, which prescribes penalties up to Rs 10 lakh, cancellation of licences and imprisonment of up to six years.

Preliminary testing of food samples has found four unsafe due to the use of harmful synthetic colours.