PCSIR testing finds excessive trans fats, peroxide values and nutritional deficiencies in food samples, prompting Ahsan Iqbal to order stricter enforcement.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has directed authorities to take immediate enforcement action after a Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) report found widespread non-conformance with quality standards in Banaspati ghee, edible oils and milk products.
The findings were reviewed during a meeting of the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC), chaired by Iqbal, which also examined an Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) report highlighting a significant gap between notified LPG prices and prevailing market rates.
The Ministry of Planning’s Nutrition Section told the committee that around 491 samples of Banaspati ghee, edible oils and milk products had been collected from locations identified by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) across the country and tested by PCSIR.
The testing found excessive trans-fat levels in 26 Banaspati ghee samples, with the highest reaching 15.87 grams per 100 grams against the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) limit of 2 grams.
Excessive peroxide values were detected in 22 ghee samples, while 15 samples had elevated free fatty acids. Vitamin A was absent in 46 ghee samples, while some samples also showed rancidity and excessive moisture.
The quality concerns extended to blended cooking oil. Vitamin A was not detected in 26 samples, while four samples recorded excessive peroxide values. The highest peroxide value reached 76.71 against the prescribed limit of 10.
Three of the four refined palm olein samples tested were also found to be non-conforming.
Milk products also showed significant deficiencies. All 26 non-conforming packaged liquid milk samples had milk-fat levels below the prescribed standard, while all eight non-conforming milk powder samples had protein levels below the required range. Two milk powder samples also failed to meet standards for total ash and fat.
Regional differences in food quality
The province-wise findings showed particularly high non-conformance rates in Banaspati ghee. Balochistan recorded the highest rate at 79.4%, followed by Sindh at 63.3%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at 58.3%, Punjab at 15.9% and Islamabad Capital Territory at 5.5%.
For blended cooking oil, 47.7% of samples in Sindh and 46.6% in Balochistan failed to meet prescribed standards. All refined palm olein samples tested in Sindh and Balochistan were found non-conforming.
Meanwhile, all packaged liquid milk samples tested in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were found to be non-conforming.
Expressing serious concern over the findings, Iqbal said the results confirmed concerns about the quality of food products available to consumers.
He directed regulatory authorities to establish a comprehensive national framework covering food quality, quantity assurance and safety, while calling for regular scientific testing of food products.
“This is only an assessment of milk and ghee. If we start testing spices and other food products, we may find further serious deficiencies,” the minister said.
Iqbal directed authorities to coordinate with provincial food authorities and establish a clear mechanism for dealing with manufacturers found violating quality standards.
He stressed that enforcement should focus on manufacturers responsible for producing substandard products rather than merely targeting retailers.
The minister also ordered that the complete PCSIR report be shared with the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for necessary action. He called for a quarterly monitoring mechanism and directed authorities to include rural markets in future testing.
Iqbal said the objective was not to shut down industries but to improve product quality and ensure consumers received safe food products.
LPG prices also come under review
The NPMC also reviewed OGRA’s findings regarding the disparity between notified LPG rates and market prices.
Iqbal noted that nearly 80% of Pakistan’s population relies on LPG for household cooking, yet an effective mechanism to monitor its market price remained lacking.
He directed the Petroleum Ministry to formulate clear guidelines in coordination with OGRA and ordered both institutions to convene a meeting and resolve the issue within three days.
The minister stressed that stronger coordination between federal and provincial authorities, scientific testing and effective enforcement were essential to protect consumers and improve the quality of products available in Pakistan.