12 family members found unconscious in J&K’s Kupwara; food poisoning suspected

Srinagar: Twelve members of a family were found unconscious in a village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Monday morning.

Police said 12 members of a family were found unconscious in Nowgam village in Kupwara district on Monday morning. “They were initially taken to a nearby medical center, from where doctors referred them to the Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara for treatment.” Doctors at GMC Handwara stated that the 12 referred patients are responding to treatment and are in stable condition, police said. Officials said initial reports indicate it is a case of food poisoning.

Eating unsafe food is often considered a cause of food poisoning in the Valley. Wedding season is currently underway in rural areas of the Valley, so poorly cooked or stale food is often the cause of food poisoning in rural areas. It is still unclear whether the affected family attended a wedding party or ate stale food they prepared themselves. However, a medical report on the cause of the illness will clear up confusion. It should be remembered that a major unsafe food racket was uncovered in J&K mid-year, resulting in the seizure of over 11,600 kg of rotten meat, adulterated cheese, and other unhygienic products. This scandal has severely damaged public trust and the local food industry.

Officials seized thousands of kilograms of rotten and unlabeled mutton, chicken, and fish. This meat, often imported from outside the UT, was allegedly from sick or dead animals, frozen, and then shipped to Srinagar at artificially low prices. The operation also revealed other methods of food adulteration, including fake rasgullas and fake cheese made with “foreign fat,” and kebabs and ristas made with synthetic food coloring, mustard oil, and poor-quality rice.
Industry experts cited the abolition of the Lakhanpur toll tax in 2020 as a factor that reduced the unchecked flow of cheap, unbranded, and unhygienic imports.

The lack of proper cold chain monitoring and testing at entry points allowed substandard products to enter the market. Health experts have linked such adulterated food to numerous foodborne illnesses, including food poisoning and other serious diseases, with some claiming that cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde were used to extend shelf life. The J&K government and the Food Safety Department launched a massive crackdown, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah chairing high-level meetings to address the crisis.

Several raids were conducted across the Union Territory, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of unsafe food products. Several individuals were identified as key suspects, and multiple FIRs were filed against violators, including the operator of Sunshine Foods in Zakura, Srinagar. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned of severe penalties for businesses that violate the rules, including fines of up to ₹1 million and imprisonment of up to six years.

Licenses of nine locations, including a Domino’s Pizza franchise and several local outlets, were suspended. The government announced several strategies to ensure food safety, including mandatory testing labs and food safety checkpoints in Lakhanpur and Qazigund to check incoming perishables. The formation of a ‘flying squad’ for surprise checks. A ban on unbranded frozen meat and chicken.