Srinagar, Dec 12: The Food Safety Department carried out raids at several locations in Srinagar on Friday following allegations of adulterated eggs being circulated in the markets.
Officials said clarity will come only after laboratory results are received, yet the episode has once again revived criticism about the department’s inability to detect adulterated food on its own.
The public mood across Valley points to a growing perception that the department remains passive until a complaint, viral video or public outrage forces it to act. Recent cases of rotten meat, suspected adulterated eggs, and poor-quality food items have reinforced the belief that routine surveillance is missing and enforcement mechanisms remain largely reactive.
According to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and the Rules of 2011, the department is required to ensure safe and wholesome food for the public by conducting regular inspections, lifting samples of all categories of food items for analytical examination and initiating legal action against violators.
Traders and consumers said that these responsibilities appear to be carried out only in isolated bursts rather than through consistent year round vigilance.
Officials maintained that samples of the suspected eggs have been sent for analysis and further action will depend on the findings. However, people argue that the department must widen its monitoring network and ensure that contaminated or substandard food items are not allowed to enter the market in the first place. Consumers said they expect proactive oversight rather than raids triggered by social media alarms or public complaints.
The recurring failures have raised concerns about public health safeguards in Kashmir’s food supply chain. Many believe that unless the department strengthens routine checks and builds a credible surveillance mechanism, markets will continue to see cyclical outbreaks of adulteration scares that could have been prevented through early detection. (KNT)
