A recent campaign by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority has revealed worrying figures about food quality in the province. Laboratory tests uncovered that over 46.2% of pops and 33.3% of nimco samples were of poor quality, raising concerns about public health and food safety.
A fortnight-long testing campaign was the first of its kind in K-P, targeting the quality of pops, chips, and spices sold in the province. In total 462 samples were collected from various factories and subjected to detailed analysis to assess compliance with food safety standards.
As per the spokesperson on behalf of the authority, the campaign evaluated approximately 175 samples of pops, 24 samples of nimco, 160 samples of seasoning powder, and 103 samples of curry powder. The findings were concerning:
- Pops: Out of 175 samples, 93 met the required standards, while 82 were deemed substandard.
- Nimco: Of the 24 samples tested, 16 passed the quality checks, and eight failed.
- Seasoning Powder: Among 160 samples, 131 were satisfactory, and 29 failed to meet the required criteria.
- Curry Powder: From 103 samples, 74 were compliant with safety standards, but 29 were found substandard.
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The percentages reveal a troubling picture: 46.2% of pops, 33.3% of nimco, 18.1% of seasoning powder, and 28.1% of curry powder samples failed to meet quality standards.
The analysis focused on critical parameters, including moisture content, free fatty acids, total ash, peroxide value, packaging thickness, and aflatoxin levels. Advanced equipment, such as ELISA readers, proximate NIR, muffle furnaces, and digital screw gauges, was used for the tests to ensure accurate results.
Director General of the Food Safety Authority, Wasif Saeed, emphasized the campaign’s importance in identifying and addressing quality issues in widely consumed items like pops, chips, and the spices used in their preparation. He noted that the authority is determined to make change especially for safeguarding public health and ensuring that food products available in the market meet acceptable safety standards.
The findings highlight the need for stricter evaluations and enforcement of food safety regulations to protect consumers and improve the all-inclusive quality of food products in the province.