1,000kg dyed bran seized from spice factory

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority on Tuesday recovered 1000 kilogram coloured bran during the ongoing crackdown against factories of spices in the provincial capital.

KP Food Safety and Halal Food Authority Director General Riaz Khan Mahsud warned that mixing wheat husk in spices was a crime and those involved in it would be dealt with an iron hand.

He added that crackdown against adulteration was a nonstop process and the authority had to ensure provision of safe and healthy foods to people of the province.

The official said that in a short span of one year time more than 2,000 kilogram bran had been recovered from spice factories across the province.

Director Operations Khalid Khan Khattak said no effort would be spared to ensure provision of pure and hygienic spices across the province.

While thanking general public for sharing information on complaint management system, he maintained that the citizens of the province were aware of adulteration and cottage food industries.

He said general public was extending help by sharing valuable and actionable information regarding adulteration in food items.

Assistant Director Dr Murad Ali revealed that the factory employees were caught red-handed while colouring the bran to supply it as spice.

He added that owner of the factory confessed that he and his subordinates were preparing an order of 1,000 kilogram coloured bran, which was supposed to be supplied to the dealer.

Director Technical Dr Syed Abdul Sattar Shah instructed general public to avoid purchasing unpacked spices as possibilities of any kind of adulteration was higher in unpacked spices compared to packed ones. He suggested that introducing packed spices was the only solution to stop adulteration.