SUMIT SHARMA
Jammu: A major food-safety concern has emerged in Jammu and Kashmir after laboratory testing of wheat supplied under the Public Distribution System (PDS) found foreign matter, mineral matter and ergot-affected grains substantially above prescribed limits, prompting the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) Department to order replacement of 1,545 quintals of wheat in Kishtwar and launch wider quality checks of wheat stocks stored at FCI godowns across J&K.
The alarming findings came from the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), following complaints from beneficiaries in the remote Marwah and Warwan areas that the wheat being supplied to them was of poor quality and produced a bitter taste after being ground into flour.
The affected stock comprises 895 quintals at Marwah and 650 quintals at Warwan. It is learnt that FCS&CA Department has directed the Food Corporation of India (FCI) to lift the affected stock on a war-footing basis and replace it with good-quality wheat.
The laboratory findings make for a disturbing read.One sample contained 2.74 per cent foreign matter against the permissible 1 per cent, while mineral matter was recorded at 0.44 per cent against 0.25 per cent and ergot-affected grains at 0.16 per cent against the permissible 0.05 per cent.
A second sample showed an even more serious deviation, with foreign matter reaching 7.80 per cent—nearly eight times the cited permissible limit. Mineral matter stood at 0.57 per cent, while ergot-affected grains were recorded at 0.18 per cent.
A third sample contained 6.12 per cent foreign matter, 0.37 per cent mineral matter and 0.17 per cent ergot-affected grains, again exceeding the prescribed limits.
The findings assume significance because FCI’s own quality-control framework stresses that foodgrain quality has to be maintained through receipt, movement, storage, preservation and distribution. FCI describes quality control as an important function across these stages.
The issue came to light during a public grievance meeting at Marwah/Warwan on June 21, where beneficiaries complained about the quality of wheat being distributed under the PDS.
An inquiry conducted by the Tehsildar, Marwah, found that although the grain appeared satisfactory during physical inspection, beneficiaries at Nowpachi complained that rotis prepared after grinding the wheat into flour turned bitter.
The inquiry recommended laboratory examination to ascertain the cause.
The samples were subsequently sent to the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad. Official records show that the laboratory received the samples on July 21, with analysis carried out between July 21 and July 31, 2026.
While pesticide residues and several other contaminants tested were reported below detectable limits, the principal deviations identified in the reports concerned foreign matter, mineral matter and ergot-affected grains.
It is also learnt that following the Kishtwar findings, the FCS&CA Department has asked the Drugs and Food Control Organisation to arrange collection and laboratory testing of wheat samples from FCI godowns across Jammu and Kashmir.
The move brings a wide network of foodgrain storage points under scrutiny, covering Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, Reasi, Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch, besides locations in the Kashmir division.
In Jammu district, the listed sources include FCI New Godown, FSD Chatha and Birpur (FCI/PWS Birpur).
The list also covers PWS Samba; PWS and FSD Kathua; PWS Udhampur (Mand); PEG Udhampur (Ritti); PEG Reasi; PWS Doda; FSD Khellani; FSD and PWS Kishtwar; and PWS and FSD Rajouri.
For Poonch and adjoining areas, FSD Poonch has also been identified for sampling, while the list for the Marwah/Warwan/Banihal area includes FSD Mirbazar, Anantnag and PEG Anantnag-II.
Meanwhile, confirming that the quality issue is being examined locally, Deputy Commissioner Poonch Ashok Sharma told The News Now that samples had already been collected from a PDS store and sent to a laboratory.
“We have collected samples from PDS store and sent to the laboratory, report of which is awaited,” Sharma said.
The report from Poonch is now expected to provide another indication of whether the quality concerns are limited to particular consignments or are more widespread.
For thousands of PDS beneficiaries, particularly those in remote areas such as Marwah and Warwan, the laboratory findings have turned what began as complaints about “bitter roti” into a wider question of food quality, safety and accountability in the public distribution system.
