Punjab

Milk fails inspection test in Haripur

Hundreds of litres disposed of in Ghazi Bazaar

Yawar Hayat July 18, 2023

HARIPUR:

In a major operation, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority Haripur disposed of hundreds of litres of adulterated milk, imposed heavy fines on the milk sellers and issued warnings to them.

According to available information, a team of the provincial authority led by Food Safety Officer Ahsan Iqbal carried out quality assessment inspections at shops and dairies in Ghazi Bazaar. Sources within the department said that they had received complaints against the milk sellers in the market.

The team took samples of milk from the vendors and milk supply trucks and got them checked at their laboratory.

The results showed that the milk was adulterated following which hundreds of litres of unhealthy and contaminated milk was disposed of and heavy fines were imposed. Meanwhile, warnings were issued to several milk vendors.

The officer pointed out that adulterated milk had health consequences for those drinking it. We cannot allow anyone to play with the health of the citizens, he said. He also urged people to be vigilant about the quality of milk and other food items sold in the market.

Such practices not only increase the risk of disease transmission but also pose a significant threat to public health, he added. He specifically highlighted that adulterated milk with chemicals can have detrimental effects on health and can lead to serious diseases such as cancer.

He further said prompt resolution of citizens’ complaints is a foremost priority. He said that they had a mobile lab equipped with the latest technology to test milk density and check for chemicals and impurities. Often, preservatives are added to milk to increase its shelf life but they can be harmful for the consumer.

In case, water, chemicals or powder is detected in the milk, a fine of Rs20,000 is imposed.

Officer Iqbal said the authority remains unwavering in its commitment to combat sub-standard food and drinks.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2023.