PESHAWAR, Mar 04 (APP):The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has continued its province-wide crackdown against adulteration and the sale of substandard food items.
According to the spokesperson, Food Safety teams, in coordination with district administrations, carried out joint operations in Buner, Battagram, Haripur, Lakki Marwat, Mardan, Lower Dir and Charsadda under the provincial government’s Ramazan Plan.
During the operations, inspections were conducted at meat shops, milk sellers, samosa and pakora outlets, bakeries, kebab shops, general stores and other food businesses.
Several outlets were sealed and heavy fines were imposed over violations, including the sale of meat from underage animals, use of substandard and rancid cooking oil, poor hygiene conditions and non-compliance with food safety SOPs.
The spokesperson said that in Battagram, the Mansehra Food Safety team confiscated and destroyed 200 liters of substandard cooking oil and 50 kilograms of spoiled liver.
In Haripur, 150 liters of adulterated and substandard milk were discarded on the spot after failing tests conducted through a mobile food testing laboratory.
Similarly, in Mardan, Lower Dir and Charsadda, cooking oil used at kebab and frying units was tested with modern equipment. Substandard oil was destroyed and fines were imposed accordingly. Improvement notices were also issued to several businesses, while expired licenses were renewed and new licenses were issued where required.
Director General Kashif Iqbal Jilani appreciated the performance of the food safety teams and reiterated that ensuring the provision of safe and quality food to the public remains the top priority of the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He emphasized that indiscriminate action against the adulteration mafia will continue.
He urged citizens to report any substandard or hazardous food items through the Authority’s toll-free and WhatsApp numbers or at complaint desks established in their respective districts, and to play their role as responsible citizens.