PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authorityon Monday warned wholesale dealersanddistributorsagainst selling substandard edible oil and ghee and said it would take strict action against such traders after the passage of twomonthsgrace period.

Addressing an orientationsession held here for wholesalers and distributorsof edible oil and ghee, KP Food Safety and Halal Authority director (technical)Dr Abdul Sattar Shah explained requirementsandstandards for refining, processing andfortification ofedibleoil and ghee.

He asked oil wholesalers and distributors to seek standardised productfrommillers and large distributor to check sale of substandard food items.

Assistant commissioner Peshawar, KP food department representatives, health department representatives and food fortification programme participated the session.

A statement issued here said the session wascalled todiscussmalnutrition in the province,therole of food fortification programme inaddressing micronutrientmalnutrition, how to ensure compliance with edibleoil and ghee refining, processing and fortification standards, and checking of sale of substandard and loose oil and ghee in the open market.

FFP provincial programme managerfor oil fortification Fauzia Anjum gaveadetailedoverview of the programme,and shared progress andway forward to addressvitaminA and D deficiencies through adequate fortification ofoil and ghee.

She highlighted importance of vitaminsA and Dfor physical and mental growth of under five children and pregnantwomen.

Ms Fauzia said in orderto ensure availability of standardized, safe and healthyedibleoil and ghee to consumers properrefining, processing and fortification is mandatory in line with PSQCAand KPFSA standards. He said thesale of substandard and looseoilwas banned, while its enforcement would begin soon.

“All wholesalersanddistributorsshould stop the sale of such oilas soon as possibleas after thegrace period of twomonths,a strict action will be taken against them,” he said.

The assistant commissionerof PeshawarTown 1 called for the registration of anonymous complaints at KPFSA online complaint portal and citizens complaint portal for prompt action.

The FFPprogramme managerappreciated theefforts ofgovernment departments andother stakeholders in overcoming thehidden hunger and micronutrients deficiencies through consumption of adequately fortified oil and ghee along with control of substandard and looseoil in the province.

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019