The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Food Safety and Halal Food Authority launched a series of late-night operations across several districts, including Peshawar, Mardan, Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera, Malakand, and Mansehra, to curb the sale of adulterated and unsafe food products.
During the crackdown, officials confiscated thousands of kilograms of contaminated food, sealed multiple production units, and imposed heavy fines on violators.
According to the authority’s spokesperson, a food safety team in Mardan set up a checkpoint on Nowshera Road, where they intercepted a vehicle transporting 5,250 kilograms of rotten and substandard meat from Karachi, intended for distribution in various cities. The contaminated meat was immediately discarded, and legal proceedings were initiated against those responsible.
In Peshawar, food safety teams conducted raids on several bakeries and spice manufacturing units in Charsadda Road and Zaryab Colony. During inspections, authorities seized 3,400 kilograms of adulterated spices containing bran, low-quality ingredients, and non-food-grade colorants. Additionally, 100 kilograms of substandard oil and non-food-grade color were confiscated from one of the units, which was subsequently sealed under the Food Safety Act.
Meanwhile, in Dera Ismail Khan, a food safety team inspected dairy vehicles at Bakkhar Pul. Tests conducted by a mobile food testing lab confirmed that 320 liters of milk were substandard and were disposed of on-site. Suppliers were also fined for distributing contaminated milk.
In Nowshera, officials raided two grocery stores in Khairabad and Khan Kohi, seizing 960 packs of substandard juice and penalizing the store owners. Similarly, in Malakand, a ghee and oil mill was sealed after its products failed to meet quality standards.
A major operation was also carried out in Mansehra, where over 2,500 kilograms of unhygienic livers and lungs were confiscated from a passenger coach arriving from Lahore. The driver was arrested as part of a broader effort to crack down on the illegal transport of substandard meat. Assistant Director Dr. Rukhsar Ali, who led the operation, stated that a special team had been formed to prevent the influx of unsafe meat and other food products from Punjab, particularly Lahore.
Director General of the KP Food Authority, Wasif Saeed, praised the teams for their successful operations and reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to ensuring the availability of safe and high-quality food across the province. KP Minister for Food, Zahir Shah Toru, reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance policy on food adulteration, emphasizing that strict action would be taken against those jeopardizing public health.