Food profits and food poisoning

Pakistan boasts of a diverse and complex food culture – one notoriously unforgiving to a weak immune system. It is often disregarded under the guise of humour but in reality, it reflects a grave problem with food safety and quality management. Roadside vendors and informal food stalls are never even expected to maintain hygiene requirements for food handling, but increasing reports about cross-contamination and use of expired products in reputable eateries are gradually taking over this epidemic.

A family of 12 members from Bahawalpur, Punjab recently made the news after consuming watermelon and milk before sleeping and waking up to nausea and vomiting - prompting an urgent visit to the hospital for all 12 members. In light of countless reports and raids that have seized adulterated milk in the past, this singular case is clearly part of a much larger looming health hazard. Milk suppliers have even been caught lacing milk with detergent powder and supplying it to eateries and cafes. When it comes to leeching profits from consumers, there really is no category that has been spared including meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Food distributors sell meat from dead chickens to fast food outlets, stall and hotels almost as confidently as if it were a public demand.

Beyond fragmented raids, fines and temporary closures, food distributors and restaurants rarely face adequate consequences. There are no prosecutions, and regulatory frameworks are exhaustively outdated. Widespread digitisation has failed to materialise within the food ordinance, which still allows for manual record-keeping and can easily be outmanoeuvred. At least for thriving businesses, the government must mandate a system that enforces labelling, registering and electronically monitoring food batches, especially for items like milk. Without a system overhaul, irregular crackdowns only fulfil the role of keeping up appearances without meaningful rectification.