Sale of unhygienic food on the rise in city

RAWALPINDI: A large number of stallholders and shopkeepers are selling unhygienic food, drinks and beverages which are causing abdominal diseases among the residents of Rawalpindi.

The stalls of ice creams, fruit chart, cold drinks and other eatables set up particularly at roadsides and in streets and parks of the town are selling unhygienic food items.The residents pointed out that stalls have been set up in Tench Bhatta, 22 Number Chongi, Lalkurti, Raja Bazar, Murree road, Khayaban Sirsyed, Bhabra bazaar, Faizabad, and several other areas.

The citizens urged the authorities concerned to take notice of the situation and ensure elimination of selling of unhygienic food and drinks. Sale of unhygienic food items has also increased in various bazaars of Rawalpindi Cantt.

Though, hundreds samples of food items are collected monthly from various shops of the Cantt area, but there is no visible change in the situation as the business of low-quality food items is increasing with the passage of time. The use of used cooking oil and ghee for frying edibles is also going on unchecked, putting people's health at a risk in most of the markets of the town. Most of the vendors fry edibles in used oil and do not change it despite using it for many days.

Even some renowned restaurants had been found using cooking oil for more than eight days in their fryers.

It is generally observed that many shopkeepers mix new oil in already used oil, which is a very dangerous practice.

The consumers of these fried items have demanded that the concerned authorities to stop these practice by the vendors.

It is also a matter of concern that these items are prepared in filthy, unhygienic conditions in gross violation of rules.

Most of the people in this business do not adopt any measure to maintain the quality of oil as well as to increase the useful life of frying oils.

When an official of food quality control was contacted, he claimed that crackdowns are conducted regularly against the violators of the law and strict action is taken in this regard.