PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has intensified its province-wide crackdown against fake and substandard food, carrying out major operations in Mardan, Haripur and Hangu.
Large quantities of counterfeit, mislabeled and substandard beverages were seized and confiscated, while strict legal action was taken against the units involved in the illegal activity. A spokesperson for the authority said that the Mardan Food Safety Team, acting on a tip-off, raided a beverage production unit on Mohib Road.
The raid exposed the manufacturing of counterfeit and mislabeled branded carbonated drinks.During the operation, more than 2,000 empty bottles, packaging material and harmful chemicals were recovered, which were being used in the preparation of fake beverages.
The unit was sealed, and a heavy fine was imposed on the owner, while further legal proceedings have been initiated. The spokesperson said that the Food Safety Team inspected a juice factory in Hattar Industrial Estate, Haripur. During the inspection, 350 litres of mislabeled juice were recovered and confiscated, and a fine was imposed on the factory owner.
Several food outlets were inspected, improvement notices were issued, and expired licenses were renewed on the spot through the authority’s e-licensing system.In Hangu, the Food Safety Team set up a checkpoint on Hangu Road and checked vehicles carrying food.During the operation, 1,400 litres of substandard beverages were recovered from a vehicle, which were confiscated, and those responsible fined.
