Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Authority Cracks Down on Food Adulteration

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority recently released its performance report for the month of Ramadan, showcasing its rigorous efforts to combat food adulteration and ensure public health safety. During this holy month, a total of 9,755 food-related businesses underwent inspections, leading to the seizure and disposal of approximately 46,825 kilograms and liters of substandard and hazardous food items. Violators faced fines and license penalties amounting to over Rs. 1.58 crore.

The comprehensive inspections targeted various establishments, including 1,051 bakeries, 1,372 meat and chicken shops, 705 hotels and kebab shops, and 650 milk vendors. Notably, 12,652 kilograms of bakery products were discarded, and 51 bakeries were sealed due to non-compliance. Hazardous beverages and milk totaling 2,150 liters and 7,262 liters, respectively, were also disposed of to safeguard public health.

In a bid to enforce health regulations, 763 businesses received warnings, and 113 were sealed for violations. Director General Wasif Saeed reiterated the authority's commitment to rooting out malpractice in the food industry, while Provincial Minister for Food, Zahir Shah Toru, praised the agency's dedication to ensuring food accessibility, affordability, and quality. The authorities vowed to maintain vigilance against consumer exploitation by criminal elements, emphasizing continuous monitoring of food operations to eliminate malpractices and deliver safe, hygienic food products to the public.