Sale of unhygienic beverages increases as mercury rises

Most vendors operate around main roads, at schools and near bus stands

MULTAN:

The sale of unhygienic beverages has increased as the temperature has risen in the city and its suburbs, leading to a heightened risk of various health hazards among the citizens and children. Meanwhile, the concerned authorities are watching silently from the sidelines.

The business of sub-standard drinks involves people allegedly filling empty bottles by mixing different colors and sugar in dirty water. Vendors are also reportedly selling these beverages in reused bottles that were not cleaned properly.

Most vendors operate around main roads, schools, bus and wagons stands, where they offer unhygienic beverages at very low prices to stave off the heat. It was observed that the majority of vendors do not apply safety standards while washing the utensils they use to serve customers.

Talking to the media on Sunday, Child Specialist Dr Mazhar Ali Shah said that sub-standard drinks and food could cause typhoid, hepatitis, diarrhea and a litany of different infections in children. He urged parents to avoid giving children such-low quality beverages and to provide them only home-made juices and edibles. He added that ratio of such diseases increases every summer season due to the increased consumption of unhygienic food items and drinks.

On the other hand, different people have demanded that the government formulate a comprehensive plan to control the production and sale of such food items.

They said that children were the most vulnerable as they get attracted easily by the bright colours and taste. They added that the sale of these unhygienic items continues unchecked throughout the year but the situation turns worst in the summer season due to increasing demand.

Citizen Muhammad Irfan said that his six-year-old son Abdullah fell seriously ill last year after drinking spurious juice outside his school. After that incident, he forbade his children from buying unhealthy drinks and food items from roadside vendors. "I am personally monitoring the food and drinks of my children even in the home and outside under the precautionary measures to protect them from diseases,” he maintained.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 15^th, 2023.