Food safety watchdog declares loose edible oil 'unsafe'

KARACHI:

The Sindh Food Authority has advised people not to use loose edible oil, declaring it hazardous for human consumption.

Sindh Food Authority Director General Muzamil Hussain Haliputo said, "the decision against using loose oil has been made by the experts of the scientific panel of Sindh Food Authority," while talking to The Express Tribune at Karachi Press Club on Monday.

He said that the SFA will conduct lab testing of the loose oil being sold. If the report says that the loose edible oil is harmful, it will be converted into biodiesel. Otherwise, packaging instructions will be issued.

He further said that in 2018, the Supreme Court had banned Chinese salt 'Ajinomoto' as it is harmful to health, but there are reports of its vast secret stocks in Sindh, including Karachi, which are being sold.

The SFA licensing app is going to be introduced soon through which food manufacturers will be able to obtain licenses online. In response to a question, he informed the SFA has earned a revenue of Rs350 million in the first five months of the current financial year and by the end of the current financial year, a revenue of Rs800 million to one billion rupees will be earned.

Under the Women Empowerment Programme in the SFA, 10food safety teams are being led by women in Karachi.

The authority has also formed a vigilance team in each division to check the activities of the raiding teams.