On the directives of Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Adviser for Food, Home and Tribal Affairs and Women Empowerment, Kifayatullah Khan, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has intensified its province-wide crackdown on the production and sale of substandard and unsafe food products.
According to a details issued by the authority’s spokesperson, food safety teams conducted a series of inspections and enforcement operations in different districts, seizing and discarding large quantities of unsafe food items and initiating legal proceedings against those involved in violations.
During an operation at an industrial estate in Peshawar, a food safety team raided a spice manufacturing unit and discovered that expired nimko, chips and papad were being used as raw materials for the preparation of spices. The team seized around 1,500 kilogrammes of substandard products, sealed the production unit and initiated legal proceedings under the Food Safety Act.
In a separate operation in the Bada Bheer area of Peshawar, the team recovered and seized suspected counterfeit spice products being sold under the names of well known brands. Legal action against those responsible has been initiated.
The authority also recovered spoiled chicken liver from a poultry shop on Phando Road and discarded it on the spot, while the shopkeeper was fined for violating food safety regulations.
In another inspection drive at Pipal Mandi, Peshawar, food businesses were checked for compliance with food safety standards. Fines were imposed on businesses found violating regulations, while operators were directed to renew their licences and ensure compliance with prescribed standard operating procedures.
Meanwhile, in Mardan, a food safety team foiled an attempt to supply unfit and rotten eggs to the market by recovering and dumping 1,500 spoiled eggs from a vehicle. A heavy fine was also imposed on the distributor.
In Mansehra, a food safety team intercepted a vehicle during checking at various entry points and recovered 260 kilogrammes of substandard khoya. The seized product was destroyed on the spot, and a fine was imposed on the person responsible.
Director General of the KP Food Safety and Halal Food Authority, Kashif Iqbal Jilani, lauded the performance of the food safety teams and urged citizens to report businesses involved in the sale of substandard and unsafe food products to the authority promptly.
He said public cooperation was essential to ensuring timely enforcement action and protecting public health.