Sale of contaminated vegetables imperils consumers
Radishes being washed in toxic water before being taken to market. The water used to cultivate and wash these vegetables is contaminated with chemicals. photo: express
The use of untreated sewage water for cultivating and washing vegetables has gained an alarming scale.
A large number of farmers grow vegetables with contaminated water and sell them in the market. In spite of organisations like the Punjab Food Authority set up to regulate food production, the issue of contaminated produce reaching markets and customers remains a major problem. Health experts say continued consumption of vegetables grown with toxic wastewater has caused an increase in infectious, sometimes even fatal diseases, such as gastrointestinal issues, hepatitis and cancer.
The previous Punjab government set up the Punjab Food Authority to deal with such issues and regulate the industry to ensure the production of safe and healthy food. Similarly, the health department, police and district administration were also authorised to take strict legal action against elements who manufacture and sell toxic food items. In addition, elected public representatives and social organisations played a role in this regard, but due to complacency setting in within the departments concerned, the issue is ongoing, where vegetables are being washed with the same toxic water they were cultivated with and sold in the markets.
A lax approach to the provision of clean food has raised questions about the need for the departments, which cost billions of rupees.
When contacted, Sahiwal Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Owais Malik stated he had given the responsibility to address the issue to the assistant commissioner of Chichawatni, who will ensure that strict legal action is taken against the groups producing toxic food.
DC Malik added that elements causing risk to people's health would be targeted without discrimination as a way to deter others.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 6th, 2022.