KARACHI, March 5: A body representing the doctors has voiced concern over the absence of manufacturing and expiry dates from the packs of edibles and foodstuffs.

Qaiser Sajjad, in his capacity as the general secretary of the Karachi chapter of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), said on Friday that the failure to get the dates printed on their packs amounted to "criminal neglect" on the part of manufacturers.

"We all know that people can fall sick if they consume out-of-date foodstuffs. Yet the manufacturers don't pay any attention to this issue. This to me is like selling potential poison to the people."

The PMA official took to task the authorities for not making the manufacturers of dairy products, bakery products and chocolates print expiry dates.

"The authorities know how the manufacturers can sacrifice norms at the alter of money. So it is the duty of our governments to pay heed to this problem. Given a will, a lot can be achieved."

In Dr Sajjad's opinion all packs of the products like milk, fruit juices, toffees, chocolates, biscuits, mayonnaise, cheese, yogurt should carry expiry dates.