PESHAWAR, Feb 24 (APP): Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority has further intensified its crackdown against substandard, adulterated, and hazardous food across the province.
According to the Authority’s spokesperson, food safety teams conducted inspections and enforcement actions in various districts, taking strict legal measures against violators.
Late at night, food safety teams carried out raids on water, snacks, and confectionery units in the Industrial Estate, Hayatabad, Peshawar. During the operation, a fake branded mineral water filling unit was sealed, while 500 liters of mislabeled water were destroyed on the spot.
Additionally, 19 mislabeled empty bottles were recovered and confiscated. From a snacks manufacturing unit, 200 kilograms of expired salt were destroyed, while a fine was imposed on a confectionery unit for using non-food-grade coloring.
During inspections of meat shops in Hussain Town and Tehsil areas of Peshawar, more than 150 kilograms of rotten and substandard meat and minced meat were recovered from two shops and destroyed on the spot. Both shops were sealed and heavily fined.
In Sherpao Bazaar and Parang Adda, Charsadda, inspections of food businesses led to the recovery and confiscation of 2,000 liters of incorrectly labelled juice from a vehicle, and fines were imposed on the responsible individuals.
In Mardan, acting on a tip-off, a raid was conducted on a pickle production unit operating inside a residential house in the Bekat Ganj area. During the operation, 500 kilograms of substandard and hazardous pickles were recovered, destroyed on the spot, and legal proceedings were initiated.
In Akora Khattak Bazaar, Nowshera, detailed inspections of meat shops, marts, bakeries, and grocery stores were carried out. Due to violations of hygiene standards, one bakery unit was sealed. From the bakery, 200 kilograms of substandard sweets and 60 liters of used cooking oil were recovered and destroyed on the spot.
At entry points of Swat, during checkpoint operations, 350 liters of expired beverages, 4 kilograms of other expired food items, and 20 liters of substandard milk were destroyed.
In Dera Ismail Khan, joint operations by the Food Authority and the district administration were conducted in various markets, during which 60 kilograms of adulterated milk were recovered from a shop and disposed of on the spot.
Director General Kashif Iqbal Jilani stated that strict action under the Food Safety Act will be taken against those who endanger public health. He further directed field teams to further intensify the crackdown against the adulteration mafia, emphasizing that no negligence will be tolerated.