Premises of schools, colleges
PESHAWAR
Secretary Food Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Capt. (R) Mushtaq Ahmad Wednesday directed Food Safety and Halal Food Authority to start a crackdown against fake and unhealthy beverages, substandard snacks and other junk food in the premises of schools, colleges and universities.
He issued these directions while presiding over a review meeting on the performance of KP Food Safety Authority.
Secretary Food said the substandard and unhealthy food can cause serious health issues to the students.
He commended Authority’s efforts for the provision of safe and quality food to the people and said to set a high standard in the food sector of the province there is a lot of space for improvement.
He directed the Food Safety Authority to further expedite the inspection of food outlets to ensure the quality food items to the people.
Secretary Food Department Mushtaq Ahmad said the Authority should provide special focus on the availability of safe and nutritious milk to the people, for which the food safety team should start checking the milk carrying container entering various cities. He said the sample of milk should be tested on spot and in case of adulteration strict action should be taken against all those responsible. He maintained the quality of food should also be ensured in restaurants and hotels in the city.
Director General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority Shahrukkh Ali Khan apprised the Secretary of Food on various steps taken for ensuring quality food to the people. He said that the Authority is working on enhancing the capacity of the Food Testing Laboratories in the province, and seven mobile food testing laboratories are already established for the purpose, which would be made operational soon in seven divisional headquarters. He added that work is also in progress on a state-of-the-art laboratory in Peshawar.
The Director-General Food Safety Authority said that the Authority is also working on the establishment of training schools in the province, where the food handlers will be trained on food, premises and personnel hygiene. He said in the first phase three training schools will be established in Peshawar, Mardan and Abbotabad.
