Daily Times

A report published in a section of press regarding the sale of rejected food brands in the Pakistani markets has raised serious concerns about the safety of public health, which is constantly at risk at the hands dishonest people. Reportedly, the United States US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has refused to allow 340 Pakistani products to be sold in the country, including 46 from a famous company spices’ for containing poisonous substances, pesticides and other reasons during last one and a half years. The sale of these unfit products is going on in Pakistan while there is no check and balance by the concerned authorities. It is a terrible practice and citizens are the ultimate sufferers of this criminal activity going on unabated all over the country.

Reportedly, the official data of FDA has shown a list of 85 Pakistani companies whose products have been refused by the reputed US body for sale in the United States. These products include packed spices, dried fruit, medical equipment, rice, jams, sauces and medicines. How come that our government fails to address this serious issue of unfit products not from a few but 85 companies including top brands? 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.

Moreover, the options available to cater to our eating habits are not without risk of contracting serious diseases that can even lead to sudden death. 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 regime 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. The government needs to wake up and take solid steps to stop the sale of rejected brands in Pakistan. Furthermore, the government needs to introduce an effective monitoring system 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. *