Govt to launch crackdown to combat rotten meat, substandard food

Srinagar, Aug 08: The government will begin a sweeping food safety crackdown from Saturday, collecting samples from five-star hotels down to roadside vendors to check for rotten meat and substandard food. The move comes in response to public outrage over the sale of spoiled meat and questionable quality dressed chicken in the market.“Sampling will be done from 5-star hotels to the vendors. Scientifically, the technical team will work on it. I think the process has started. The work will start from Saturday,” Food and Supplies Minister Satish Sharma told reporters, adding that strict legal action would follow against those found guilty of endangering public health.He addressed social media complaints about poor-quality rice supplied under government schemes. The rice, procured from the Food Corporation of India in Punjab and elsewhere, had not yet reached his department. The minister assured the public that the government would supply “the best quality rice” and that the offenders will have to face the law.On the meat issue, Sharma praised the food supplies department for acting swiftly. “I praise those who first went and caught it from two-four-five places. The people who are playing with the lives of people are not humans,” he said. He confirmed that samples are being sent to multiple laboratories to determine, through scientific analysis, how long frozen meat has been stored. “If experts are saying, then experts will be believed. We have to see all aspects,” he added.The operation will be conducted jointly by the food supplies, legal metrology, health, and poultry departments. “Yesterday I came to know, today we have gone to two to four places. Our other teams are also on the job. We had a meeting on this issue, and people from all our departments are involved,” Sharma said, urging the public not to panic.The minister reiterated that the drive will also cover small eateries and street stalls selling kebabs, ristas, and rogan josh. “The same kind of meat is being sold. Sampling will be done from the 5-star hotels to the vendors. Scientifically, the technical team will tell us,” he repeated.