BFA Cracks Down on Substandard Food, Fines 45 Food Units and Issues Notices to Over 50

QUETTA: The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has intensified its crackdown on the preparation and sale of substandard and unsafe food items across the province, fining 45 food establishments and issuing corrective notices to more than 50 others.

According to a BFA spokesperson, food safety teams conducted inspections in Quetta, Turbat, Usta Muhammad, Muslim Bagh, Khuzdar, Hub and other areas, checking bakeries, general stores, sweet shops, restaurants, beef shops, departmental stores, food manufacturing units, spice-processing facilities, naan shops and milk shops.

In Quetta, inspections were carried out in Patel Road, Moti Ram Road and Shawq Shah Road, where several establishments, including a cooking house, barbecue point and RO water plant, were found violating food safety regulations. Inspectors detected spoiled meat, rodent droppings, cockroaches, unhygienic kitchens, rusty utensils, faulty machinery and improper food storage. An RO water plant was also found filling and packaging water under an unregistered brand.

In Pashtunabad, fines were imposed on a food manufacturing unit, bakeries and a spice-processing facility over poor sanitation, failure to use protective clothing, improper storage of raw materials, inadequate pest-control measures and the absence of traceability records.

Six establishments, including restaurants, a fast-food outlet, general stores and a bakery, were fined during inspections on Brewery Road. Expired syrup and hazelnut spread, banned gutka and paan products, as well as the use of Chinese salt in spices, were also detected.

Food safety teams also inspected areas including Qambrani Road, Hazarganji, Sarki Road and Nawan Killi Bypass, where baking units, milk shops, restaurants, general stores, beef shops and naan shops were penalized for various violations.

The inspections uncovered expired products, poor sanitation, uncovered garbage bins, pest infestations, improper storage, underweight dough portions, water mixed into milk and the use of newspaper for food packaging.

In Turbat, action was taken against a fast-food outlet, general store and milk shop for poor hygiene, the use of harmful food colours, improper storage, water mixed with milk, skimmed milk powder added to yogurt and the sale of expired products.

In Khuzdar, general stores, milk shops and other food establishments were fined for poor sanitation, the use of harmful open cooking oil, underweight dough portions, adulteration of milk with water and the presence of expired products. Several establishments received corrective notices for minor violations.

In Hub, four restaurants were fined for poor hygiene, uncovered garbage bins, inadequate personal hygiene among workers, the use of harmful open cooking oil and substandard food colours.

The BFA said inspections and enforcement operations would continue across the province to ensure compliance with food safety standards and protect public health.