PESHAWAR
\nDirector General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KP FS&HFA) Shahrukh Ali Khan Saturday said food fortification is very important strategy to address the issue of malnutrition in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; In this noble cause oil and ghee mills are fully cooperating with government, ensuring fortification of their products.
\nHe expressed these views during a progress review meeting \u201cDigitizing Pakistan\u2019s Vitamin A\/oil Program to Drive Sustainability\u201d organized by Nutrition International.
\nDG KPFS&HFA Shahrukh Ali Khan congratulated the participants on the approval of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Fortification Bill, 2022 from the provincial assembly, and said the act was much needed and is a huge milestone towards ensuring production and supply of fortified foods to the people. He said Nutrition International is playing a vital role in the process and not only supporting millers but also provincial Food Safety Authorities in shape of capacity building and provision of testing equipment.
\nThe event was also attended by Secretary Food, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mushtaq Ahmad, Director Nutrition Dr. Fazal Majeed, Secretary General Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturer Association (PVMA) Umar Islam Khan, Oil & Ghee mills representatives, National Program Manager Edible Oil Fortification, Nutrition International Zameer Haider among others.
\nWhile addressing to the event Secretary Food, KP Mushtaq Ahamd said loose oil in the market is a serious health concern for public health, which is mostly used by the underprivileged class who already suffers from malnutrition. He said the Food Safety Authority is working against loose oil in the market, and in coming days will further intensify the operation. Mushtaq Ahmad added there is need of raising awareness among the masses, who use loose oil on daily basis, and to sensitize them to know how injurious it is to their health.
\nDirector Nutrition, Health Department, Dr. Fazal Majeed said Pakistan is facing a triple burden of malnutrition, it results in stunting, Vitamin A,D deficiencies, Anemia, and lower IQ among other complications. He said the government, among other interventions, is working on the harmonization of nutrition subject in various universities, and will also ensure nutrition subject in allied health sciences.
\nProgram Manager Edible Oil Fortification, Nutrition International, Zameer Haider said food fortification is cost effective and it results in massive returns. He added that oil and ghee is an ideal vehicle for the fortification purposes. While citing a government report, he added, the government faces losses of over 7.6 billion US$ annually due to malnutrition.
\nHe maintained the cost on one kilogram of oil and ghee fortification is just 60 to 70 paisa, making it a very low cost intervention, with greater benefits. He said currently, in Pakistan 72 percent of the edible oil and ghee is contributed from the formal sector, while 28 percent of it comes in shape of loose edible oil-without fortification and refining and government needs to make concerted efforts to stop the sale of such oil.
\nSecretary General Pakistan Vanaspati Manufacturer Association (PVMA) Umar Islam Khan said the industries realize the importance of fortification and are fully cooperating with government in this regards. He asked government for the establishment of nutrient bank in the country, so that the country has enough quantity of the micronutrients premixes for food fortification.
\nDirector General KP FS&HFA Shahrukh Ali Khan said in addition to crackdown against loose oil, the KP FS&HFA has confiscated large amounts of misbranded oil and ghee. He said if the project or millers have any information of misbranding or related to lost oil sale, the Food Safety Authority would take stern action.
\nAt the end of the progress review meeting, Coordinator, National Fortification Alliance (NFA) Dr Khawaja Masuood Ahmed, thanked the participants for their inputs to discuss progress, issues and challenges in oil fortification and reiterated on the importance of addressing the issue of loose, unpackaged oil to ensure essential vitamins can reach to population from all income groups.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PESHAWAR Director General Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KP FS&HFA) Shahrukh Ali Khan Saturday said food fortification is very important strategy to address the issue of malnutrition in Pakistan, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; In this noble cause oil and ghee mills are fully cooperating with government, ensuring fortification of their products. He […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264615,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-264600","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-peshawar"},"yoast_head":"\n