Islamabad Food Authority Conducts Over 1,200 Inspections in July to Ensure Food Safety
The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) conducted an extensive food safety campaign in July, carrying out 1,276 inspections across the capital to enforce hygiene and safety standards in food-related businesses.
In an exclusive statement to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Dr. Tahira Siddique, Deputy Director Operations at IFA, shared the monthly performance report, which highlights significant enforcement actions and public health protections during the month of July 1 to July 31.
Hygiene Violations and Penalties
According to Dr. Siddique, inspections targeted a wide range of establishments, including restaurants, bakeries, general stores, food processing units, and street vendors. As a result:
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856 outlets were issued improvement notices for minor hygiene issues.
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113 businesses were fined a total of Rs. 2.01 million for more serious violations.
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58 outlets were sealed for repeated or critical breaches of food safety regulations.
Unsafe Food Confiscated
During the inspections, the IFA confiscated and safely destroyed a total of 3,035 kilograms/liters of expired, substandard, or contaminated food items, including:
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1,050 kg of spoiled or low-quality meat
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923 kg/liters of adulterated or spoiled milk and dairy products
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249 kg of stale or previously served food
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227 kg/liters of food items past their expiry date
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41 liters of cooking oil deemed unfit for use
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15 kg of salt without required iodine content
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20 kg of contaminated tea leaves
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12 kg of banned MSG (monosodium glutamate)
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265 liters of expired or unsafe beverages
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233 kg/liters of other unfit food items
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1,577 sachets of banned products
Licensing and Public Complaints
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The IFA issued 425 food licenses to compliant businesses.
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The authority responded to 51 public complaints, conducting follow-up inspections and addressing all concerns.
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One FIR (First Information Report) was registered for serious legal violations.
Additionally, 34 food samples were collected for lab testing. Depending on results, further legal action may be taken against businesses selling adulterated or hazardous products.
Ongoing Commitment to Food Safety
Dr. Tahira emphasized that these actions are part of a broader initiative to ensure safe food for Islamabad residents. Regular inspections, stricter law enforcement, and public education campaigns will continue in the coming months.
Businesses have been reminded to maintain proper hygiene, acquire valid food licenses, and label ingredients and expiry dates clearly. The IFA also encourages citizens to report any food safety violations via its official helpline or online portal.
