Everyday Food Items Fail Simple Quality Tests Nationwide

Government authorities have issued a nationwide call to enhance food quality following the detection of numerous defects in samples of banaspati ghee, cooking oils, and milk products. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized that subpar food could pose significant threats to public health. Iqbal led a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee to discuss reports from the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) regarding discrepancies between permitted and actual LPG prices.

A total of 491 samples of banaspati ghee, edible oils, and milk products were gathered from various provinces and evaluated by PCSIR. The analysis revealed excessive trans fat, peroxide values, free fatty acids, rancidity, moisture, and other quality issues in several samples. In banaspati ghee, 26 samples contained excess trans fat, exceeding the permitted limit of 2 grams per 100 grams.

Additionally, 46 samples lacked Vitamin A, while 22 showed high peroxide values. Regional disparities were evident, with 79.4% of banaspati ghee samples in Balochistan failing to meet standards, compared to 15.9% in Punjab and 5.5% in Islamabad Capital Territory. Among cooking oils, 47.7% of Sindh samples and 46.6% in Balochistan did not comply with regulations, while three out of four refined palm olein samples failed to meet requirements.

Milk testing also raised concerns, as all nonconforming liquid milk packages had insufficient fat content, and all eight defective milk powders contained inadequate protein levels. Iqbal instructed regulatory bodies to penalize manufacturers producing inferior products, asserting that retailers should not solely bear responsibility for quality issues originating at the manufacturing stage.

He advocated for a unified quality control system encompassing all four provinces, along with a clear protocol for addressing violations. Iqbal mandated regular food product testing and inclusion of rural markets in a quarterly monitoring system. He highlighted that the assessment focused solely on milk and ghee, warning that further inspections could uncover additional serious quality deficiencies.

Iqbal stressed that improving food quality is crucial for public health, bolstering Pakistan's export potential, and ensuring consumers receive safe, high-quality products. The minister clarified that the government's goal is not to dismantle industries but to elevate product standards to protect consumers. He directed the complete PCSIR report to be shared with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for further action.