Daily Times

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has warned ghee and edible oil companies to fortify vitamins A and D as per the international unit (IU) per kilogramme; otherwise strict action will be taken against them.

PFA Director General (DG) Noorul Amin Mangal told Daily Times that this initiative had been taken once again after revelations in a recent nutritional survey report of the government that deficiency of vitamin A was found in 64 percent of the population, and vitamin D deficiency was found in 69 percent of the people.

In this context, the PFA has circulated warning notice to ghee and edible oil companies under Section 2 (b) of the PFA Act, 2011, to immediately maintain the quantity of vitamins A and D as per the set standards.

According to the notice, companies will bound to fortify the products and ensure that they contained approximately 35,000 IU to 45,000 IU of vitamin A and 3,000 IU to 4,500 IU of vitamin D per kg.

According to health experts, retention of vitamin A is adequate to meet the human body requirements when oils/ghee were fortified. Vitamin A is essential for normal growth, while its deficiency causes night blindness, reduce the general resistance of organism to infection, and affects the regulatory function of skin.

It is pertinent to mention here that in November 2016, the PFA declared various ghee brands and cooking oil unfit for human consumption due to rancidity, artificial flavour addition, more acid values, absence of vitamin A and low saponification value. On this, the PFA gave time to the companies to overcome the deficiencies and address other issues.

According to reliable sources, the PFA took samples of various brands of cooking oil and ghee after the expiry of the deadline mentioned in the notice. The authority has started receiving laboratory results of the samples, and it might issue a report in this regard within the next couple of weeks.

Noorul Amin Mengal said, “Malnutrition and stunted growth are the core issues faced by a significant number of the population. Nearly 44 percent of the children and 66 percent of pregnant and lactating mothers are deficient in necessary vitamins and minerals, as per the surveys. The PFA has taken up the matter on a war-footing basis, and on the recommendation of the scientific panel, issued directives for addition of necessary vitamins and minerals in food products such as oil and ghee.”

He said that respective industries had been taken on board and the change in rules for addition of vitamins and minerals were conveyed to them, as part of the larger food fortification drive. “Our teams are strictly monitoring the situation and taking samples from time to time to crosscheck composition of final products. Strict action is and will be taken against noncompliant industries. The public, being the chief stakeholder, will be kept aware about fit and unfit food products.”

He said that the PFA take stern action against companies not meeting the parameters in the light of law and laboratory test reports. “We will not spare anyone. No compromise will be made on the health of citizens,” he added.