Over 4,000 non-conforming food samples in five years. Over 7,700 civil cases decided with penalties. These numbers from Jammu and Kashmir are a warning. They tell us that what we eat may not always be safe, and that enforcement is fighting a battle that is far from won. The data is sobering. Between 2021-22 and 2025-26, authorities analysed 54,169 food samples, of which 4,995 were found non-conforming. In 2025-26 alone, 664 samples out of 6,546 failed to meet standards. These are not minor infractions. They point to widespread adulteration, contamination, and violations that put public health at risk. Yet, what is equally troubling is the enforcement gap. Jammu and Kashmir has 101 sanctioned posts for Food Safety Officers, but 22 of them remain vacant. When the army of inspectors is understaffed, how can we expect the battle against food adulteration to be won? The response of the Ministry—that vacancies are taken up regularly—is not good enough. Citizens deserve a robust enforcement system that acts swiftly and decisively. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has done commendable work by notifying 259 accredited laboratories and 24 referral labs. But testing alone is not enough. Results must be followed by action. The 84 convictions recorded over five years, against 7,742 civil cases decided, raise questions about the effectiveness of the judicial process in dealing with offenders. Food adulteration is not a victimless crime. It is a crime against public health. When milk is diluted, spices are contaminated, or edible oils are adulterated, it is the poor and the vulnerable who suffer the most. They have no choice but to buy what is available, often unaware of the poison they are consuming. The answer lies in strengthening enforcement, filling vacancies, speeding up trials, and creating public awareness. Citizens must demand accountability. The food on our plates should nourish us, not harm us. It is time we treat food safety as the public health emergency it truly is.
Every society has people who are struggling — the poor, the sick, the orphan, the widow, the unemployed, the one who has lost everything. The question is not whether such people exist....
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