Balochistan Food Authority’s Crackdown Across the Province Against Adulteration Mafia and Poor Sanitation; Baking Unit Sealed in Quetta, Heavy Fines on Dozens of Outlets

QUETTA (Daily Qudrat Quetta): To ensure the provision of quality, safe and adulteration-free food items to the people, the Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) is continuing operations across the province without interruption. In various districts, food safety teams inspected baking units, bakeries, pizza points, grocery stores, wholesalers and other food outlets and took strict action over serious violations of hygiene principles.

According to the BFA spokesman, on a complaint received from citizens, immediate action was taken on Mikangi Road in Quetta and a baking unit was sealed. During the inspection, numerous serious violations came to light, including extremely poor sanitation, improper storage, absence of preparation and expiry dates on products, and poor arrangements for pest control.

Similarly, action was taken against pizza points, baking units and bakeries located on Samungli Road and Sariab Road, and heavy fines were imposed on their owners. At the said outlets, poor sanitation, non-conformity of workers with personal hygiene principles, rusty refrigerators, open garbage bins, use of harmful open cooking oil and improper arrangements for the preparation and storage of food were found.

In addition, in Zhob, milk quality was specifically checked at New Abadi and Jail Road, where during on-the-spot testing of samples obtained from 30 milk shops, a fine was imposed on one shop after water adulteration in milk was proven, while action was also taken against another shop over the sale of expired juices and cold drinks and poor sanitation. On this occasion, food business operators were distributed licence forms and directed to immediately fulfil all legal requirements.

Furthermore, in Sohbatpur, a crackdown was carried out against bakeries, confectionery wholesalers and grocery stores operating without food business licences. During the inspection, fines were imposed on the owners concerned over the presence of expired chips, biscuits and snacks, poor arrangements for preventing flies on sweets, negligence in workers’ personal hygiene and the absence of preparation and expiry dates on products.

According to the Balochistan Food Authority spokesman, no compromise will be made on food quality, cleanliness, prevention of adulteration, the sale of expired items and compliance with food business licences, and the series of indiscriminate legal action against elements committing violations on public complaints will continue as before.