Everyday Food Items Fail Simple Quality Tests Nationwide

A nationwide food quality assessment in Pakistan revealed widespread nonconformities in everyday food items like banaspati ghee, cooking oils, and milk products. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting to review reports from PCSIR and OGRA, highlighting that poor quality food poses serious public health risks. Tests on 491 samples across all provinces found issues such as excessive trans fat, lack of Vitamin A, and low fat/protein levels. Regional disparities were significant, with Balochistan, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa showing the highest failure rates for banaspati ghee. Iqbal has directed regulatory authorities to take action against manufacturers and called for a coordinated quality control system, regular testing, and inclusion of rural markets in monitoring.