Toxic chemicals used to prepare milk, sweets

Inspection teams fall victim to influence of local mafia

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Sweets, juices and candies containing harmful substances, chemicals and essence are being sold in various parts of the district, Express News reported.

Hazardous and toxic chemicals used to prepare desi ghee, powdered milk and sweetmeats such as gulab jamun are in high demand in Rahim Yar Khan as well as other parts of Southern Punjab.

Officials told Express News that toxic chemicals are being used to prepare powdered milk which is being sold in wholesale and retail markets for approximately Rs200 to Rs800 per kilogramme. The product is also used to prepare liquid milk, a major constituent of several bakery items and sweets.

A survey by Express News revealed that the substandard sweets made from such chemically produced milk are sold in the form of candies for young children. Similarly, widely popular sweets made from toxic milk are sold across grocery stores, and are eventually consumed by children. Products made from such milk also include rabri and qulfi, sold by peddlers in broad daylight.



Despite various calls and complaints, local teams from the health department have failed to shut down the supply and reduce the consumption of chemically produced milk and its products. Inspection teams seem to have also fallen prey to the influence of the local mafia, who is behind the massive production of hazardous milk.

In addition to sweets, hazardous powdered milk is also mixed with potatoes, semolina and fine flour and packaged as raw material for gulab jamun, cham cham and khoya. The mixture is supplied to major cities in Punjab as well as other provinces, in large quantities.

Tons of such material packed in large sacks are supplied to other areas via coaches and buses. A large number of manufacturing units solely dedicated to production of hazardous mixtures are also being set up in various parts of Rahim Yar Khan. Citizens have demanded the authorities concerned to take action over the matter and launch crackdown against the perpetrators.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 5^th, 2018.