Factory sealed over harmful ingredients

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority inspection teams raided a spice factory on Charsadda Road, seizing a large quantity bran, other harmful ingredients and substandard spices and sealing the premises.

A spokesperson for the Authority said that the food safety teams of Town-1 and Town-2 conducted a joint raid following a tip-off, resulting in the confiscation of 1,296 kilograms of bran, 128 litres of harmful colorants, and 90 litres of oil.

The factory was using bran, non-food grade colorants, and salt to prepare spices. In total, 1,075 kilograms of substandard spices were also taken into custody, and the factory was sealed.

The inspection was supervised by Assistant Director Food Abbas. Director General of the Food Authority Wasif Saeed commended the teams for their operation and urged the public not to purchase loose and uncertified spices from the market.

Wasif emphasised on the responsibility of citizens to report such elements to the Food Authority officials. In a statement, Minister for Food Zahir Shah Toru stated that the adulteration mafia deserved no leniency. He instructed the authorities to maintain strict vigilance over those endangering public health and to carry out stringent disciplinary actions against them.