Balochistan Food Authority Seals Two Milk Shops in Crackdown on Adulterated Milk, Fines 25 Food Businesses

QUETTA: The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has intensified its crackdown against adulterated milk and substandard food, sealing two milk shops, fining 25 food business operators, and issuing improvement notices to 18 establishments during inspections across several districts of the province.

According to a BFA spokesperson, food safety teams conducted inspections in Zhob, Quetta, Panjgur, and Khuzdar, taking legal action against businesses for milk adulteration, poor hygiene, expired food products, illegal food coloring, improper storage, and violations of food safety regulations.

In Zhob, BFA officials, accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner, inspected milk shops and dairy farms. Two milk shops were sealed after laboratory tests confirmed water adulteration and the sale of skimmed milk. Four units, including two dairy farms, were fined, while five improvement notices were issued.

Inspectors also identified several food safety violations, including diluted milk, low fat content, insect contamination, unhygienic utensils, unsanitary conditions, and poor cleanliness standards.

In Quetta, inspection teams carried out operations in Kasi Road, Alamdar Road, Nachari Road, Hazara Town, Airport Road, Patel Road, Mir Ahmed Khan Road, and Sariab Road. Thirteen food businesses were fined and five improvement notices were issued.

The operation included action against two milk shops for selling adulterated milk, while three additional milk outlets received improvement notices. Authorities also found violations at general stores, restaurants, hotels, bakeries, butcher shops, and other food outlets, including poor sanitation, operating without licenses, spoiled meat, improper food storage, insect infestations, open waste disposal, use of non-food-grade colors, expired products, and banned food items.

During the inspections, owners of newly established water plants were briefed on BFA standard operating procedures (SOPs), registration requirements, and safe drinking water production. Workers at naan shops were also provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and trained on safe food handling practices.

In Panjgur, authorities fined two general stores and issued improvement notices to five establishments after seizing expired beverages, snacks, milk cream, juices, spices, banned Chinese salt, and non-food-grade coloring agents.

Meanwhile, in Khuzdar, inspections along RCD Road resulted in fines for six food outlets, including two restaurants, three general stores, and one naan shop. Eight additional establishments were served improvement notices.

Officials cited multiple violations, including extremely poor hygiene, unclean premises, fly infestations, rusted utensils, inadequate drainage systems, underweight bread production, and the sale of expired food products.

The Balochistan Food Authority said its campaign against adulterated milk, unsafe food, and businesses endangering public health would continue without discrimination. The authority also urged all food business operators to strictly comply with food safety laws, hygiene standards, and BFA regulations.