RECENTLY, when I was checking the expiry dates of toffees, ‘slantees’, chips, ‘churran’, chocolate, biscuits, etc, I did not notice any expiry date on their wrappers. On inquiry the shopkeeper said that once he had read a wrapper for biscuit showing the date that had expired about 10 years ago. The biscuits had been exported from Iran.

I then asked the food department and relevant authorities whether they would allow their children to consume such biscuits etc as they do not mention the ingredients, their quantity and their expiry dates.

It’s the duty of the government to keep an eye on the import of such food items that are likely to harm the health of the consumer.

Those importers who fail to obey government rules and regulations must be punished. Also, food inspectors should be appointed to oversee the problem as regard unsafe food.

Moreover, all parents should be watchful about what their children buy and consume ensuring that it is not injurious to human health.

Adil Awan

Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2017