The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Sunday imposed a complete ban on the sale, storage and distribution of 10 ghee batches found adulterated with foreign vegetable fat, terming them "sub-standard, unsafe, and misbranded" for public consumption.

The action, taken under Section 30 of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, came after the Notified Food Analyst at the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and the Food Testing Laboratory, Kashmir, confirmed quality violations in samples collected from nine districts across the Union Territory.

Banned batches

Among the banned products are the brands Dairy Mohan, Apna Dairy Milk, Milk Bite, Nandni, Shahi Taj, Daawat Fresh, Nand Krishna, Vandu, Dairy Milk, and Mohan Dairy, with the FDA identifying specific batch numbers for each.

The affected batches include Dairy Mohan Desi Ghee (Batch No. 05), Apna Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. DM-06), Milk Bite Cow Ghee (Batch No. 137), Nandni Desi Ghee (Batch No. ND-28), Shahi Taj Desi Ghee (Batch No. 134), Daawat Fresh (Batch No. VT09), Nand Krishna Cow Ghee (Batch No. PC-05-26), Vandu Cow Ghee (Batch No. D143), Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. OM12), and Mohan Dairy Ghee (Batch No. 06).

Laboratory findings

Laboratory analysis revealed the presence of beta-sitosterol — a marker for vegetable oil adulteration — along with positive Baudouin test results, abnormal fatty-acid profiles, and significant deviations from prescribed physicochemical parameters, officials said.

The samples were originally collected from Anantnag, Shangus, Larnoo, Bijbehara, Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Tral, and Pampore.

Enforcement measures

The FDA has directed all Food Business Operators (FBOs), wholesalers, distributors and retailers to immediately halt sales and ensure the complete withdrawal of these batches from the market. Affected businesses have been given 48 hours to declare their remaining stock to the concerned Designated Officer.

Enforcement agencies have been placed on high alert to monitor compliance and prevent further circulation of the prohibited products.

"Ghee is required to be derived exclusively from milk or milk products. Any added matter not exclusively derived from milk fat is not permitted for sale under the applicable food safety standards," the FDA said in its prohibitory order.

The ban is effective immediately across Jammu and Kashmir. The FDA has urged consumers to exercise caution, verify brand names, batch numbers and packing dates while purchasing ghee, and to report any availability of the banned batches to the nearest food safety authority.

In an official statement, the FDA clarified that the prohibitory measure is precautionary and does not curtail the statutory right of the concerned FBOs to seek re-analysis through an FSSAI-notified Referral Laboratory.

The action comes amid growing concerns over food adulteration in the region.

SRINAGAR — Mirwaiz-e-Kashmir Dr Moulvi Muhammad Umar Farooq on Saturday said Kashmiri Pandits are "our own people" and an "integral part" of Kashmir's culture, history and future, while condemning threats against them.

Speaking with reporters, Mirwaiz, as reported by the news agency KNO, said efforts should continue for the return of Kashmiri Pandits to the Valley.

"Kashmiri Pandits are not outsiders; they are our own people. They are a part of our culture, our history and even our future," he said, adding that he hoped the government would also continue its efforts in this regard.

It is in place to mention here that threat letters allegedly targeting Kashmiri Pandit government employees in Jammu and Kashmir surfaced online on August 7, 2026 and August 23, 2026. The letter was attributed to the United Liberation Council (ULC), a group security agencies are examining for possible links to Lashkar-e-Taiba. However, the authenticity of the letter had not been verified by police or security agencies.

The first letter targeted Kashmiri Pandit employees working in the Valley and the second letter reportedly included names, addresses and vehicle numbers of some employees. The employees work under the Prime Minister’s employment package for Kashmiri migrants.

Following the threats, their forum sought enhanced security from the Jammu and Kashmir administration and have pressed for complete work-from-home provision for minority employees across the Kashmir Valley.

The Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed fresh threats to Kashmiri Pandit employees “highly concerning” and directed security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to trace the source of the intimidation.

SHOPIAN — Patients requiring continuous oxygen support at District Hospital Shopian are facing inconvenience as the hospital's central oxygen generation and pipeline system has remained non-functional for more than two months, leaving the health facility dependent on individual oxygen cylinders.

According to the news agency KNO, the prolonged disruption has become a matter of concern for patients and their attendants, particularly those suffering from serious respiratory ailments and elderly patients who require uninterrupted oxygen support.

Attendants said the dependence on cylinders has added to the logistical burden on both patients and hospital staff and could pose difficulties in situations where several patients need oxygen simultaneously.

In the absence of the central oxygen supply system, oxygen cylinders are reportedly being shifted between different wards to meet the requirements of patients. Attendants said that while cylinders are being arranged, the system is less convenient than a functional central pipeline, especially during emergencies and periods of increased patient load.

The issue has caused particular concern among families of patients suffering from chronic respiratory conditions such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), for whom any interruption in oxygen support can become critical.

Hospital staff and attendants have also expressed concern over the repeated transportation and replacement of oxygen cylinders in various wards, saying the arrangement requires constant monitoring and movement of cylinders and may become challenging during busy periods when multiple patients simultaneously require oxygen.

The situation has also raised concerns about the hospital's preparedness to deal with emergencies involving several patients who may need continuous or high-flow oxygen support, particularly during critical cases and sudden increases in patient admissions.

Attendants have sought the attention of higher authorities in this regard, so that patients in need do not continue to suffer.

An official of the health department said the issue had been taken up with the concerned Mechanical and Hospitality Division for restoration of the oxygen generation plant. The official said repair and restoration work was in progress and the facility was expected to become functional within the next 10-15 days.