Major Crackdown by KP Food Safety & Halal Food Authority in Peshawar and Mardan
Thousands of kilograms of substandard and hazardous chicken meat and fish confiscated and discarded; hundreds of kilograms of substandard spices and mislabeled cream seized; heavy fines imposed: say Food Authority officials
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety & Halal Food Authority launched major operations in Mardan and Peshawar, confiscating and discarding a significant quantity of substandard and hazardous food items.
According to the Food Authority spokesperson, early morning checking points were set up at Nowshera Road and Rashakai Interchange in Mardan, where food safety teams rigorously inspected vehicles transporting edible goods.
During the operation, more than 10,000 kilograms of substandard and underage chicken meat were seized from a vehicle and destroyed on the spot. Additionally, 200 kilograms of substandard fish were recovered and disposed of per food safety regulations.
Further inspections revealed that another vehicle was carrying 525 kilograms of substandard and hazardous spices along with 500 kilograms of mislabeled cream, which were subsequently confiscated. Heavy fines were imposed on the owners, and further action was initiated under the Food Safety Act.
The spokesperson extended that in Peshawar, the Food Safety Team, in collaboration with the Cantonment Board, conducted a joint operation at several branded bakeries, uncovering poor hygiene conditions, substandard ingredients, and expired products.
Inspections uncovered that many workers lacked medical certificates and of gloves, while one bakery unit did not possess a Halal certification. Additionally, food safety teams discovered insect killers were also switched off, expired products, and substandard cooking oil in multiple establishments.
The Food Safety Authority teams also collected samples of bakery products and dispatched them for laboratory testing. Several establishments were issued violation notices, and their owners were summoned for legal proceedings.
KP FS& HFA Director General Wasif Saeed warned that those involved in food adulteration and selling substandard food items must either cease their activities or be prepared for strict legal action.
Meanwhile,Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring safe, Halal, and high-quality food for the public. He stated that the sale of substandard and hazardous food products will not be tolerated and warned that those compromising public health will face strict punitive action.
The provincial government remains dedicated to ensuring food safety, and a crackdown against violators will continue across the province, he added.
