Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Mar 7: A new report has highlighted the alarming spread of food adulteration in Pakistan, describing it as a public health crisis that now threatens everyday survival rather than merely limiting consumer choice.
The report details contamination across a wide range of products, including synthetic milk, fake cheese, spices, cooking oil, meat, and bottled water. According to the findings, adulteration has become a systemic problem, occurring throughout the supply chain from farms to retail outlets.
Citing a judicial observation from the Lahore High Court, the report described the situation as a “horrifying picture”, noting the court’s refusal to grant bail to an accused caught transporting 2,400 litres of adulterated milk.
Research by the Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority revealed that milk samples tested in Karachi contained formalin and excessive phosphate, making them unfit for human consumption. Formalin, an industrial preservative, is known to pose serious health risks. Other chemicals routinely added to milk include water, detergents, vegetable fats, and urea.
The report also flagged the widespread circulation of counterfeit and substandard food products, produced by unlicensed manufacturers who imitate popular brands. These items are often available even in major retail outlets, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal disorders, liver and kidney damage, weakened immunity, and higher susceptibility to disease.
“Perhaps the most troubling aspect of Pakistan’s food adulteration crisis is how normalised it has become. Consumers often assume that what they buy is unsafe and adjust their expectations accordingly,” the report said.
The media outlet noted that enforcement measures are typically reactive and short-lived, triggered by court interventions or media scrutiny. Penalties for offenders are often too lenient to act as a deterrent, effectively allowing adulteration to continue as a manageable cost of doing business.
The report concludes that Pakistan’s food adulteration problem reflects systemic regulatory failures rather than isolated criminal acts, emphasizing the urgent need for stricter oversight and stronger enforcement.