21 mills sealed in KP for producing substandard ghee, oil

PESHAWAR: In a major action, Halal Food Authority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sealed 21 out 26 ghee and oil mills in the province for production and distribution of substandard ghee and cooking oil.

An officer of the authority told The News that a total 46 samples had been collected from 26 mills in Malakand, Hazara, Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan divisions about a month back.

The samples were sent to an internationally accredited laboratory(ies) for testing in line with the national standards for ghee and edible oil.

Only 14 samples from 10 ghee mills were found correct as per the national standard and 32 samples from 21 ghee mills failed to qualify the required standard, he said.

Therefore, all the 21 ghee mills producing the substandard products were sealed, he said.

Elaborating the number of samples and mills, he said that each mill was producing several products like ghee, oil and various brands of the products. Therefore, they collected samples of different products from those mills, he said.

He said the sealed mills owners were required to submit an application within seven days to get their mills desealed, which would be done after imposing fine on them and getting an affidavit from them that they would recall all the available stock from market within 13 days and reprocess them in accordance with the national standards within 15 days.

The official said that after the stipulated time, samples would be collected again both from the mills and the market to be tested.

According to the the laboratory report the products that were found below the standard included: “GCP Swat Banaspati, Noor Banaspati, SGM Zalmi Banaspati, Rahim Banaspati, GCP Dargai Banaspati, Areeba Banaspati, Taj Banaspati, Wazir Banaspati, Sher Banaspati, Zoha Cooking Oil, KPK Banaspati, Umra Banaspati, Afzal Banaspati, Karwaan Banaspati, Khyber Zar Banaspati, Zayan Kohinoor Banaspati, Maan Pasand Banaspati, Kohsaar Banaspati, Khushboo Banaspati, Mujahid Banaspati, Shahbaz Kohinoor Banaspati, Hassan Banaspati, Karwan Banaspati, Gulab Banaspati, Alam Banaspati, Mohmand Banaspati, Markhor Banaspatiand, Rahat banaspati, Chashma banaspati, Khadim banaspati, Sakoon banaspati & Millat banaspati.”

The report declared the mentioned products as unfit for human consumption until proper processing.

Regarding the processing of ghee and edible oil, the official said that the raw material of these products is imported from Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries. The mills refine the raw material after proper processing to make it fit for human consumption.

But the mill(s) often avoid proper processing of the raw material and they focus attention on packing and distribution only. Thus, the raw material is properly packed and distributed in the market, which results in the spread of various fatal diseases, he said.

Caretaker minister for food Asif Rafiq termed the action as a major breakthrough. He said that provision of clean and quality food items to the people was the top priority of the government.

Secretary Food Zariful Maani said that no one would be allowed to supply substandard ghee and oil to the market at any cost. He said the action against adulteration and production of substandard edible items would continue till their complete eradication.