SRINAGAR, Sept. 10 -- Beneath the familiar taste of Dal Lake's famed 'Nadru' lies a food-safety concern that Kashmir can no longer afford to overlook.

Scientific investigations have detected potentially toxic metals in lotus rhizomes grown in the lake, raising serious questions over what consumers may be putting on their plate with a delicacy so lovingly cherished in Kashmiri cuisine.

The strongest evidence comes from a 2025 study published in the journal Toxics, which specifically examined the uptake of potentially toxic elements by lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) grown in Dal Lake. The researchers collected lotus, water, and sediment samples from four areas-Hazratbal, Bod Dal, Gagribal, and Nigeen Lake-during August to October 2024.

The 10-...