Srinagar, March 19 -- Food safety should not be a privilege but a fundamental right of every citizen. However, going by some recent events, it remains one of the most neglected areas of public health in the Valley. The viral social media video about a dead mouse floating in cooking oil at a street vendor's stall near Hazratbal Shrine should shock us all. It is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a deep-rooted crisis. This was followed by reports of unhygienic practices in bakeries, hospitals, and food markets. which has hit the public confidence in much of the food sold on the market, giving rise to calls for immediate and stringent measures to safeguard public health.

This is an alarming situation. As things stand, street vendors,...