QUETTA, Oct 20 (APP):The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has intensified its crackdown on substandard and expired food products across the province, imposing fines on 35 food businesses and issuing corrective notices to 47 others for violating food safety regulations.
The inspections were conducted in Quetta, Khuzdar, Kuchlak and Pishin as part of the authority’s ongoing efforts to improve food quality, curb adulteration and protect public health.
According to a BFA spokesperson, inspection teams identified multiple violations, including the sale of expired food items, poor sanitation, unhygienic food-handling practices and non-compliance with food safety standards.
In Quetta’s Hazara Town area, an inspection team visited restaurants and bakeries and fined three restaurants and one bakery for various violations. These included poor sanitary conditions, inadequate personal hygiene among staff, uncovered waste bins, defective drainage systems, a heavy infestation of flies and the use of rusted refrigerators.
The teams also confiscated expired food products, including bread, beverages, coffee, desi ghee, juices, snacks, biscuits, cakes and fresh cream. Some products were found without manufacturing or expiry dates, raising further concerns about food safety and traceability.
Action was also taken against the use of prohibited Chinese salt, commonly known as monosodium glutamate (MSG), in spices.
As part of efforts to prevent milk adulteration, BFA milk safety teams inspected dairy shops in the Mitha Chowk, Pashtoonabad and Faqir Muhammad Road areas of Quetta. Three milk vendors were fined after on-site testing of milk and yoghurt samples revealed adulteration with excessive quantities of skimmed milk powder and water. Two other milk shops received corrective notices over minor deficiencies.
In Khuzdar, inspection teams checked food establishments in Agha Market, Umar Farooq Chowk, Mir Chakar Khan Road and surrounding areas. Two businesses were fined for operating without valid food business licences.
Meanwhile, inspections in Kuchlak Bazaar, Ziarat Road and Chaman Road resulted in action against 20 establishments found selling food products without the required licences, despite repeated warnings and notices.
In Pishin, a special inspection in the Qilla Batizai area led to fines against five food businesses for poor sanitation, violations of hygiene standards and the presence of expired food items.
The spokesperson said the operations were aimed at ensuring that food available in markets, restaurants, bakeries and dairy shops met the required safety and quality standards.
BFA teams also directed business owners to comply with food safety laws and the authority’s standard operating procedures (SOPs), stressing that maintaining hygiene and preventing food adulteration were essential to protecting consumers.
The authority reiterated that inspections would continue across the province and that legal action would be taken against businesses found violating food quality, hygiene and public health regulations.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
