25,000kg substandard pickles seized

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority on Wednesday launched a major crackdown against food adulteration, seizing 25,000 kilograms of substandard and hazardous pickles from a manufacturing unit in Industrial Zone Hayatabad In the provincial capital.

According to a spokesperson for the Food Authority, the operation was led by Director Operations Akhtar Nawaz in coordination with the district administration. During the raid, authorities discovered extremely poor hygiene conditions and unsafe production practices at the facility. The entire stock of contaminated pickles was destroyed on the spot, and the factory was immediately sealed. Legal action under the Food Safety Act has also been initiated against the owners.

Director General of the Food Authority, Wasif Saeed, commended the operation, emphasising a zero-tolerance policy toward those endangering public health. “No one will be allowed to risk human lives by selling substandard food products,” he stated.

KP Minister for Food, Zahir Shah Toru, reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to eliminating food adulteration. “The mafia involved in food contamination, acting as an enemy of the people, will be completely eradicated,” he asserted. Toru also directed officials to intensify operations against those selling unsafe food items.