DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA) has intensified a province-wide crackdown against adulterated milk, counterfeit beverages and unsafe food items, destroying thousands of litres of contaminated products and initiating legal action against violators.
On the directives of Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Food Dr Muhammad Israr Khan, food safety teams conducted operations in Mardan, Bannu, Swat, Dera Ismail Khan, Haripur, Charsadda, Peshawar and Malakand, where large quantities of adulterated milk and fake beverages were seized and disposed of.
According to the Food Authority spokesperson, 600 litres of adulterated milk mixed with skimmed milk powder, water and chemicals were seized in Mardan. The milk outlet was sealed and legal proceedings were initiated against those involved.
In Bannu, officials recovered and destroyed 500 litres of adulterated milk prepared from dried milk powder following a raid on a milk outlet. The owner was fined under food safety laws.
The spokesperson said inspection teams at Swat Motorway and Landakay check posts confiscated more than 3,000 litres of substandard milk after laboratory tests confirmed adulteration.
In Dera Ismail Khan, a joint operation with the Livestock Department at Bhakkar Pull check post led to the recovery and destruction of 1,200 litres of milk adulterated with skimmed milk powder.
Similarly, in Haripur, authorities seized 1,000 litres of adulterated milk from a tanker arriving from Punjab after detecting the presence of powdered milk and chemicals.
The authority also took action against unsafe beverages and other food items. In Charsadda, 450 litres of substandard juices and soft drinks were destroyed, while fines were imposed on two wholesale dealers. Another wholesaler was penalised for storing banned China salt.
In Peshawar, food safety teams inspected bottled water plants and destroyed 600 litres of improperly labelled bottled water recovered from a production unit. The owner was fined.
In Malakand, officials seized around 1,000 litres of counterfeit beverages carrying fake labels of well-known brands. One suspect was arrested and further legal action was initiated.
Dr Muhammad Israr Khan appreciated the performance of food safety teams and said providing safe, hygienic and adulteration-free food to citizens was a top priority of the provincial government.
He warned that no leniency would be shown towards those involved in activities that endanger public health and directed enforcement teams to continue action against food adulterators across the province.
The Food Authority also urged citizens to report the sale or production of adulterated and unsafe food items so that immediate action could be taken against violators.
