The controversy over the type of meat seized from Bengaluru’s KSR railway station in July has been settled after laboratory reports confirmed that it was mutton and safe for consumption. Analysis by three different laboratories approved by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found the meat to be safe for consumption. Only one report indicated slightly elevated E.coli levels, which is still permissible under food safety regulations.
The row erupted on July 26 when murder-accused cow activist Puneet Kerehalli and his accomplices stormed the railway station, claiming that the consignment from Jaipur contained dog meat. This sparked a ruckus that led to the seizure of 84 packages of meat.
In response to the allegations of dog meat being sold as other meat and the media reports that followed, the Karnataka Health Department ordered the meat samples to be examined. During the investigation, the officials identified 84 packages of meat and sent samples to ICAR – National Meat Research Institute in Hyderabad for analysis. The reports confirmed that the meat was from Ovis Aries (sheep).
There were also concerns about the safety of the meat due to its transport by train from Jaipur to Bengaluru. The results showed that the meat samples were safe for consumption. However, a report pointed out that the level of E. coli bacteria was above the limits prescribed by the FSSAI, although all other parameters were within acceptable limits. According to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Rules, 2011, Annexure B, Table 5, the elevated E. coli level does not prohibit the sale of the meat.
The Cottonpet police filed three complaints, two of which booked Puneet and his accomplices for various offences. The third complaint was for allegedly transporting dog meat.
