Peshawar: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Food Authority has concluded its extensive milk sample collection and testing campaign, revealing alarming results. A detailed report released by the authority shows that 93% of the 583 milk samples tested from various businesses across the province were found to be substandard and harmful to health.
The samples were collected from approximately 324,000 liters of milk from large and medium-sized milk businesses. Out of the total samples, 541 were deemed unsatisfactory, leaving only 42 samples (7%) meeting the required standards.
The report highlights multiple adulterants found in the samples: 417 samples contained water, 106 had glucose, 17 had formaldehyde, 224 lacked fats, and 488 were deficient in proteins and other essential minerals. Additionally, 18.18% of the samples contained dry milk powder, 15.7% had sucrose, 4.1% had salt, 2.91% had formaldehyde, and 1.3% contained sorbitol.
The breakdown of the samples revealed that 356 were from local milk sources, 141 were from other provinces, and 86 were from unverified sources. Divisional analysis showed that Peshawar had 94% unsatisfactory samples, Mardan 87%, Kohat 88%, Malakand 97%, Hazara Division 84%, and both Bannu and D.I. Khan had 100% of their samples fail the quality test.
The samples were tested in a sterilized bottle and ice box following full SOPs in the lab. For the first time, the KP Food Authority used the state-of-the-art Milko Scan technology for large-scale milk sample testing.
Director General Food Authority, Wasif Saeed, stated, “We have initiated a crackdown on the milk adulteration mafia.” He added that shops of milk sellers involved in adulteration, classified in the black and red categories, will be sealed, and their licenses revoked. Already, seven milk sellers’ shops in Peshawar and five in Malakand have been sealed, with heavy fines imposed.
The crackdown against businesses involved in milk adulteration is ongoing across the province. Provincial Food Minister Zahir Shah emphasized, “Those selling poison in the form of milk will be dealt with iron hands.”
In addition to milk, the KP Food Authority will extend its testing to oil, ghee, spices, and other food items across the province. Minister Zahir Shah Toru stated that all food items would be inspected in state-of-the-art laboratories to determine their quality and potential adulteration. “The provincial government believes in zero tolerance against the adulteration mafia,” he asserted.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, the provincial government is committed to eradicating the adulteration mafia from the province, Zahir Shah Toru concluded.
