An anti-adulteration drive led by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Director Operations Ayesha Mumtaz has been going on in Lahore to ensure hygiene at sweet shops in the city. The crackdown was apparently launched after the death of at least 26 people in Layyah due to consumption of poisonous sweetmeat. During the operation on Thursday, a number of outlets were sealed and fined in different areas of the city. Unfortunately, this is a neglected subject that requires a great deal of attention, as there is a glaring absence of safeguards on food items in Pakistan. The perpetrators of this crime against humanity sell unhygienic food items and adulterated eatables of all sorts openly and without any fear of being caught or punished. It appears as if a food mafia has been created that has made a joke of people’s health and physical well-being. Finally, a government official has taken on this uphill task to eliminate the availability of bad or low quality food, and that must be appreciated and supported. Mumtaz has earned much appreciation for conducting raids of all hotels and restaurants irrespective of their status and ranking. So far, she has sealed or fined scores of hotels and restaurants, reiterating the provincial government resolve to ensure the provision of quality food items to all citizens.The options available to cater to our eating habits are not without risk of contracting serious diseases that can even lead to sudden death. One of the main problems of our local eateries is that their staff does not follow the basic principles of food hygiene and safety. They do not observe the guidelines on how to prepare, cook and serve food items, and there is no culture of maintenance and cleanliness in their kitchens. Kitchens of many restaurants are a dismal sight, highlighting that only the part that is seen is to be taken care of: the prepared food and the area where food is served. Even some five-star hotels do not adhere to all the prescribed guidelines, and the story of roadside eateries is anyone’s guess. The PFA Director Operations is doing a commendable job; however, the anti-adulteration drive should not only be limited to Lahore or Punjab. Other provincial governments should emulate this practice and take it as a role model for saving citizens from potentially hazardous food items. There is a need to take stringent measures to deal with the food mafia. Only making laws is not enough; the implementation of food safety rules is necessary. Government needs to enforce a regular inspection regimen to save the public from the evil of adulteration and unhygienic food practices. An effective monitoring system must be implemented to check the quality of raw food available in the market. Proper rules and regulations and their implementation are necessary to save people from catching deadly diseases due to the consumption of unhygienic food. *