The Supreme Court has taken a strong and concrete step
FAISALABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan banned the sale of substandard cooking oil and ghee at the Utility Stores Corporation until a quality report comes in the hearing of the suo-motu case. This is the right time and it is a good decision taken by the SC to protect the lives of people. Numerous companies have been producing low quality, contaminated cooking oil and ghee in our country, which is being sold at large in our shops. It is being used frequently in hotels and roadside food stalls for deep frying.
The sale and use of impure oil is very alarming and harmful as it does not promote good health and nutrition. The consumption of contaminated oil increases one’s risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of cholesterol. A wide variety of local and imported cooking oil is available in the market. The people must match the oil’s heat tolerance with the cooking method at the time of choosing cooking oil because heating oil changes its characteristics. Oils that are healthy at room temperature can become unhealthy when heated above certain temperatures.
Food safety is the handling, preparation, and storage of food to prevent foodborne illness. It is often connected with food defence to prevent harm to consumers. The food authorities of any state regulates food safety and hygiene in the country. The Punjab Food Authority is very active nowadays by taking actions against offenders. Earlier, it was their obligation to control the production and sale of substandard oil and ghee in the province. Due to negligence and meagre performance of the Punjab Food Authority regarding the control of manufacturing and distribution of adulterated food, the Supreme Court has taken a strong and concrete step.
Engr Mansoor Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2017.
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