BFA intensifies food safety crackdown in Quetta and Loralai

QUETTA, Oct 08 (APP): The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has intensified its food safety operations in Quetta and Loralai, sealing units, imposing fines, and issuing improvement notices to ensure compliance with hygiene standards and food safety regulations.

In Loralai Zone, the Zonal Food Safety Team conducted inspections under the supervision of Deputy Director Muhammad Ghani at Katwai Mhor, Quetta Road. A total of eighteen units were inspected, seven were fined, and six improvement notices were issued. Grocery stores were penalized for selling expired spices, banned Chinese salt and gutka, and maintaining poor storage conditions. A bakery was fined for unhygienic premises, open dustbins, missing expiry and manufacturing dates, and poor worker hygiene. A meat shop was penalized for using printed paper, keeping meat uncovered without fly nets, and operating without a BFA license. A fruit and vegetable shop was fined for selling spoiled produce and lacking hygiene standards, while two milk shops were penalized for dirty utensils, unhygienic premises, and poor personal hygiene.

Meanwhile, in Quetta, BFA teams carried out inspections on Spini Road, CPEC Road, and Railway Society, sealing two units and fining one food outlet for serious violations. A juice manufacturing unit was sealed for lacking product registration, lab reports, proper storage, and worker safety measures. Another warehouse was sealed for missing traceability records and double punching of manufacturing and expiry dates. A food corner was fined for rancid oil, poor refrigeration, lack of temperature control, and absence of a BFA license.

Director General BFA Habibullah Khan said that unregistered products, poor hygiene, unsafe storage, and violations of food safety SOPs are unacceptable. He emphasized that the provision of safe and quality food to the public is the authority’s top priority and urged food business operators to strictly adhere to hygiene standards. He reaffirmed that indiscriminate action will continue across the province to protect public health and ensure compliance with BFA regulations.