Days after allegations of dog meat transportation at KSR Bengaluru railway station, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) confirmed that the meat seized on July 26 was sheep meat. In a statement released Wednesday, FSSAI reported that samples sent to the National Meat Research Institute at ICAR in Hyderabad underwent Molecular Biomarker Analysis (DNA) testing. The analysis confirmed the meat was of Ovis aries (sheep).
On July 26, chaos erupted at the KSR Bengaluru Railway Station when Hindutva vigilante Puneeth Kerehalli and his associates intercepted a shipment of red meat from a long-distance train, claiming it was dog meat. Police and food safety officials promptly arrived at the scene, and samples were collected for testing to verify the claims.
Senior BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) officials emphasized the importance of trade licenses for all meat shops in the city. They highlighted that BBMP’s health and animal husbandry departments regularly monitor these establishments for cleanliness, hygiene, and proper waste disposal methods. Violations result in the cancellation of trade licenses.
This incident underscores the importance of regulatory oversight and accurate information in maintaining public trust and ensuring food safety standards are upheld.