Srinagar, Aug. 9 -- They said improper handling, unhygienic storage, and the use of harmful chemicals to mask spoilage could be silently fueling a health crisis in the valley.

Dr Mohammad Salim Khan, Head of the Department of Community Medicine at GMC Srinagar, said that improper handling of meat and poultry can have devastating consequences.

"Unsanitary practices during slaughtering, dressing, packaging, transportation, storage, and distribution can contaminate meat with harmful bacteria, leading to foodborne illnesses such as food poisoning, diarrhoea, dysentery, and typhoid fever," he said.

He added, "Meat, especially poultry, spoils quickly when exposed to environmental conditions without proper handling and storage. Unfortunately,...