SFA conducts over 16,000 inspections in October

Sindh Minister for Food and Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro has said the Sindh Food Authority (SFA) has strengthened its commitment to ensuring public health and safety through extensive inspections and strict enforcement against food and water safety violations across the province in October.

He has emphasized that these actions reflect the authority’s dedication to maintaining health standards and providing safe and hygienic food and water to the people.

In a statement, the minister highlighted that during October, the SFA conducted a total of 16,061 inspections throughout all divisions of Sindh, with 6,244 in Karachi division, 4,597 in Hyderabad division, 1,175 in Sukkur division, 925 in Shaheed Benazirabad, 1,922 in Larkana division, 1,198 in Mirpurkhas division.

He noted that as a result of these inspections, 3,791 improvement notices were issued to establishments needing corrective actions, and fines were imposed on 941 units found violating food safety standards. To ensure quality, the SFA collected 84 food samples for testing, identifying potential health hazards before they could affect the public.

He stated that anti-adulteration efforts were prioritized, activities of 171 units were suspended and 8,240 challans issued to various units across the province.

Shoro remarked that Karachi and Hyderabad witnessed the highest level of enforcement activities, emphasizing the authority’s commitment to prioritizing safety in areas with larger populations and higher consumption rates. He reiterated that in its intensified campaign against milk adulteration, the SFA has taken decisive action to address this critical issue affecting the health of Sindh’s residents.

He mentioned that a total of 118 milk samples were collected from various sources, with 63 containing adulterants that compromised their safety and quality. Shoro also noted that improvement notices and significant fines were issued to establishments involved in milk adulteration, mandating immediate compliance with food safety standards. He pointed out that the SFA is committed to ensuring the quality of water provided to the public. He disclosed that SFA teams inspected 463 Reverse Osmosis plants across Sindh in October to address water quality concerns and ensure accountability.

The results revealed that 90 plants were producing water unsuitable for human consumption, leading to the suspension of licences for 233 RO plants due to unsatisfactory results and other reasons. He reiterated the authority’s commitment to ensuring that clean, safe drinking water is supplied to communities and warned that inspections would continue, with immediate action against any RO plant failing to meet standards. Shoro directed SFA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto to maintain a robust and ongoing inspection regime, ensuring all food and water safety violations are promptly addressed and that all corrective actions are implemented.