Unethical food practices threaten public health, erode community trust, and endanger Kashmir’s cultural and economic fabric amid rising greed-driven corruption
In every society, individuals must fulfil certain roles to sustain themselves within the broader ecosystem. These roles naturally involve interactions between people and communities, fostering mutual trust across different sections of society. This trust serves as the driving force that allows society to function smoothly and harmoniously. Yet, there are always elements that undermine this foundation, causing breaches of trust and eroding the very social fabric built upon it.
Since ancient times, human behaviour has been guided by an inherent nature that, Â according to the theory of Realism in political science, is fundamentally selfish and self-centred. This nature often drives individuals toward immediate gratification, with little regard for moral or ethical constraints. As members of society, we are frequently inclined to pursue our own growth and advancement, even at the expense of others, embodying the principle of “survival of the fittest.”
Imagine planning a long-awaited family picnic to a nearby tourist spot — booking a clean, comfortable hotel, purchasing quality food, and sparing no expense to ensure your loved ones enjoy a safe and healthy outing. As a special treat, you take them to a well-known, upscale restaurant, expecting a fine dining experience. But when the much-anticipated dish arrives, what you find on the plate is not fresh, wholesome food, but stale, rotten fare — potentially poisonous, and capable of turning a joyful day into a health emergency.
Shockingly, this scenario is no longer a mere hypothetical in the Kashmir Valley. In a disturbing turn of events, authorities in the Kashmir Valley have uncovered and seized large quantities of rotten meat being supplied to markets, restaurants, and hotels — meat that was shockingly still being served to unsuspecting customers. This revelation has sparked outrage and concern across the region, raising serious questions about how profit has become a higher priority than public safety and ethical responsibility. The pursuit of monetary gain, it seems, has overshadowed the basic moral obligation to ensure that the food served is safe, fresh, and fit for consumption — a betrayal of trust that puts not just health, but the very fabric of societal ethics at risk.
These recent events not only expose the depth of unethical business practices but also reveal their far-reaching impact on individual well-being and the social fabric of the Valley.
The issue is multi-layered, touching public health, economic stability, ethics, and community trust.
Rotten or spoiled meat is a breeding ground for harmful bacteria, toxins, and parasites. Its consumption can trigger acute food poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting,  diarrhoea, stomach cramps, and fever. In severe cases, infections like Salmonella or E. coli can cause life-threatening complications, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems. Prolonged exposure to such contaminated food can result in chronic digestive disorders, kidney damage, or even neurological conditions — and in extreme situations, delayed medical attention can mean death.
The consequences extend far beyond individual illness. If multiple restaurants and hotels are implicated, outbreaks could spread rapidly, placing immense strain on already burdened hospitals. Public trust in food safety would plummet, leaving people fearful of dining out. For a service-driven economy like Kashmir’s — where tourism is a vital revenue source — such fears could prove disastrous. A single breach of trust risks tarnishing the reputation of the entire hospitality sector, punishing not only the guilty but also honest meat suppliers and responsible businesses.
At its core, this is a question of morality. Placing profit above human life reflects a deep moral decline and normalises corruption within the food industry. If left unchecked, such practices send a dangerous signal — that cutting corners, even at the expense of health and safety, is an acceptable way to succeed.
Society thrives on the assumption that businesses operate with a basic sense of responsibility. When something as fundamental as food safety is wilfully ignored, it erodes public confidence not just in businesses but also in the authorities tasked with regulation. The result is a growing climate of cynicism, suspicion, and hopelessness.
If this culture of neglect continues, the damage could be generational. Young entrepreneurs may come to believe that unethical shortcuts are the norm, undermining the long-standing Kashmiri tradition of honesty in trade. In the end, community bonds will fray, replaced by suspicion where trust once stood — a price far higher than any profit made from a tainted plate.
In the relentless pursuit of economic gain, the ethical dimensions of our actions often recede into the background.
The Kashmir Valley, long cherished for its natural splendour and encircling mountains, holds a far deeper identity as the Resh Vaer — the Valley of Saints — a repository of spiritual wisdom and moral guidance. The Sufi tradition that shaped this cultural ethos articulated a code of conduct grounded in justice, compassion, and collective well-being.
Today, however, the growing internalisation of capitalist principles risks displacing these indigenous ethical frameworks, substituting communal responsibility with individual profit-seeking. Our inherited traditions of trust, hospitality, and moral rectitude are not mere cultural ornaments; they constitute the foundational pillars of this Valley’s social fabric. To compromise them is to undermine the very moral architecture that has sustained Kashmiri society for centuries.
Malik Basit Amin
ba**********@***il.com