Food adulteration in Pakistan has escalated to the point where it endangers daily survival rather than just affecting consumer choice, as per a report by Daily Mirror. The issue spans various products like synthetic milk, fake cheese, contaminated spices, cooking oil, meat, and bottled water. The situation has been described as a severe public health crisis unfolding discreetly in kitchens and markets across Pakistan.
A recent judicial observation in Lahore High Court labeled the adulteration scenario as a “horrifying picture,” emphasizing the severity of the problem. The report highlighted findings from the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority, revealing the presence of formalin and excessive phosphate in all milk samples tested in Karachi, rendering them unsuitable for consumption. Formalin, a common industrial preservative, poses significant health risks.
The report pointed out that milk in Pakistan is often adulterated with water, detergents, vegetable fats, urea, formalin, and other chemicals. It raised concerns about the systemic regulatory failure contributing to the widespread issue rather than isolated incidents of adulteration. Moreover, counterfeit and substandard food products resembling popular brands are readily available in major retail stores, manufactured by unlicensed producers.
Unsafe and unhygienic practices throughout the food supply chain in Pakistan pose risks of gastrointestinal disorders, liver and kidney damage, weakened immunity, and increased susceptibility to diseases. The report highlighted the normalization of food adulteration in the country, leading consumers to assume that purchased items are unsafe. It criticized the reactive and short-lived crackdowns on offenders, noting that penalties are often insufficient to deter repeat violations, becoming a manageable cost of business.
