It is intriguing that today the food chain is increasingly compromised by pesticides, industrial pollution, and unethical practices. There was a time when people used to make a lot of hue and cry if their milk vendor added water in the milk but today despite the alarming level of contamination in dairy products, people have become helpless as chances of getting pure products are bleak rather impossible because adulteration is rampant everywhere.
Recent recovery of hundreds of kilograms of rotten non-vegetarian products in both Kashmir and Jammu Divisions tells about the sordid state of affairs and the urgent need to take strict action against such malpractices ruining lives as what is being served on plates these days is nothing but slow poison. Rampant use of chemical preservatives and artificial polishing agents on fruits and vegetables has made food a potential health hazard.
With hopes diminishing with each passing day, the call given by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for stringent punitive action against those selling or storing unwholesome food has again rekindled the optimism that one day J&K will be free from unsafe food and people will get only nutritious items on their platters.
It is necessary that what the chief minister has said to address the food contamination and other issues concerning public health should be taken very seriously and the concerned stakeholders must comply to create an atmosphere in J&K where selling, storing or carrying unsafe food becomes impossible. By strict enforcement, frequent inspections and educating the society, this goal could be achieved in days.
It is for sure that by implementing what the CM has said, the government can win the trust of people because today everyone is troubled because of poisoning of the food chain in one way or the other.
There is a dire need to tighten the noose around the unscrupulous food vendors as allowing anyone to serve or sell unsafe food means killing people slowly, which is a crime. Strong leadership on this front is not only commendable but urgently needed. No doubt, the unscrupulous elements have played with the health and lives of people and this has to be stopped. Those deliberately involved in playing with public health must face the law.
