Three bakery units, oil repacking factory sealed in KP

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority on Monday sealed three bakery units and an oil repacking factory as the officials continued raids in various localities to ensure safe and hygienic food items to the citizens.

A team led by Director Administration Muhammad Shoaib Khan raided a fake ghee factory situated at the Phandu Road. The factory was apparently dealing in mustard oil but in the basement the inspection team found an outdated machinery which was out of order and a tank of used oil full of dirt.

It was revealed that the factory was reprocessing used oil and repacking it with a new packaging. The oil was being supplied to pakora, samosa and chicken frying business owners on cheaper rates.

Shoaib explained that such factories imported raw palm oil and packed it directly without removing impurities. Assistant Director Muhammad Abbas said such low standard oil may cause cardiovascular and cancer diseases.

Another raid was conducted in near Khazana Sugar Mills, where three units of low standard bakery production were sealed. Assistant Director Asad Ali led the team to the venue and found the production units full of dirt. He added that the production units were situated adjacent to a pool of stagnant water where non-food grade colours were used for Jalibi and Rusgulay production.

The official said that the bakers were supplying low standard bakery items to the outskirts of Peshawar and adjacent areas. While 800 kilograms of Jalibi and Rusgulay were discarded for being injurious to health.

Three of the units were sealed and the owner has been called to the office directorate general of the authority for further proceedings. It is pertinent to mention that all the information was received via KP Food Authority complaint management system displayed at kpfsa.gov.pk