Srinagar, Aug. 28 -- From Srinagar to Sopore, stalls that once bustled with customers craving traditional delicacies like rista and tujji now stand largely deserted.

In Sopore, the usually lively Chankhan Market, considered a hub of street food and famous for staying open late into the night, wears a deserted look. At Main Chowk too, where dozens of food carts once competed for space and customers, only a handful of vendors are seen waiting anxiously for buyers.

"I managed to sell just four seekh tujji in four hours," said a well-known cart vendor in Sopore. "We don't know what our fault is. A few people made mistakes; now everyone is paying the price."

The scandal, which broke earlier this month after Food Safety Department raids led ...