CHINIOT: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) sealed over six food points in Chiniot and imposed fines totalling Rs60,000 in an attempt to stamp out food adulteration in the city.
The operation was conducted on Sarghodha Road and in the Main Bazaar of Lalian. It aimed to address the pressing issue of food safety and the public health risks associated with adulterated products.
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During the operation, the PFA discovered and destroyed over 60 litres of adulterated milk, along with a significant quantity of expired goods.
Food adulteration remains a widespread problem in Pakistan, with various reports indicating alarming statistics. A study conducted by the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) revealed that a whopping 40 per cent of food items in the country were adulterated.
Common staples such as milk, spices and cooking oils are often mixed with harmful substances to increase profit margins. The World Health Organisation (WHO) also expressed concerns about food safety in Pakistan, as foodborne diseases pose a significant public health challenge.
The PFA’s recent actions are part of a broader imitative to improve food safety standards across the country’s most populous province.
In 2022, the authority conducted over 10,000 inspections. This led to over 1,200 food establishments being sealed and over thousands of litres of adulterated milk and other unsafe food products destroyed.
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The PFA stated that public awareness regarding food safety was critical, with citizens encouraged to report any suspicious food practices to the authorities.