Action intensified against food adulteration

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has intensified the crackdown against food adulteration and the sale of substandard food items, conducting major operations across Peshawar, Swabi, and Mansehra.

According to a spokesperson for the authority, food safety teams carried out inspections at various locations.In Peshawar’s Charsadda Road area, raids were conducted at spice manufacturing units located in Mirch Mandi.

During the inspection, one facility was found mixing wheat husk into spices.The team seized 750 kilograms of adulterated spices and eight litres of non-food grade coloured oil. Legal proceedings were initiated against the factory owners, and the seized items were sent to laboratory for testing.

In a separate raid in the Durankpur area of Peshawar, authorities discovered a ketchup manufacturing unit producing substandard products. Around 600 litres of substandard ketchup were discarded on the spot, while another 300 litres of processed ketchup were confiscated and the factory was sealed.

The spokesperson said that nearly 850 bottles of counterfeit and substandard cold drinks and juices were recovered from a wholesaler in the Chota Lahore area of Swabi. The stock was seized and legal action was initiated.

Meanwhile, food safety teams inspected multiple shops and confiscated more than 450 kilograms of substandard tea in Mansehra. Heavy fines were imposed on the violators. Commenting on the actions, KP Minister for Food, Zahir Shah Toru, said, “Those involved in food adulteration are enemies of humanity. We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy against such elements. Playing with public health is unacceptable. Ensuring the supply of safe and quality food remains a top priority of the provincial government.”