Quetta: In an ongoing effort to combat the distribution of unsafe and substandard food products, the Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has recently fined over 30 food centers across Quetta, Dera Murad Jamali, and Turbat. The penalties were imposed due to violations of food safety laws, including the sale of expired or adulterated food items.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Balochistan, the BFA’s inspection teams targeted various food outlets including milk shops, RO plants, general stores, hotels, cuisine houses, pizza points, bakeries, and large departmental stores. The operations resulted in the seizure and destruction of large quantities of harmful dyes used in artificial and powdered milk and yogurt, as well as various over-expired edible products found in general and departmental stores.
The report further disclosed that many of the penalized centers lacked the necessary food business licenses. The owners of these centers were warned to prioritize obtaining these licenses and to adhere strictly to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) set by the food authority. Additionally, during the inspections, water samples were collected from two RO plants, which are now undergoing laboratory analysis to ensure their safety.
Director General of Balochistan Food Authority, Atiqullah Khan, emphasized that the primary duty of the authority is to eradicate substandard and adulterated food to protect public health. He also noted that the BFA is actively working to raise public awareness about food safety through social media, helping consumers to distinguish between healthful and harmful food products.