The Sindh Food Authority (SFA) has taken swift action against a private company, ordering the immediate withdrawal of 11 packaged snack products from the market following lab tests that deemed them “unfit” for consumption. The directive came from SFA Director General Muzamil Hussain Halepoto on Monday.
The products flagged for safety concerns include Slanty Vegetable, Snackers Hot Masala, Snackers Pizza, Twitch Classic, Potato Sticks, Cheese Ball Masala, Cheese Balls Cheese, Kai Korean Hot, Kai Spicy Mala, Kai Mala Wok, and Kai Korean Kimchi. These items failed quality tests conducted at the Food Testing Laboratory of the University of Karachi’s Department of Food Science and Technology.
Director General Halepoto warned the company to comply with the recall within three days, emphasizing potential legal consequences for non-compliance. He also urged provincial food authorities across Pakistan to investigate similar issues to safeguard public health.
According to Sindh Food Authority reports, the company had submitted 24 products for registration approximately two and a half months ago. However, subsequent lab tests revealed that nearly half of these products did not meet the required safety and quality standards.
In response, the Sindh Food Authority has invoked Section 24 of the Sindh Food Authority Act 2016, mandating a comprehensive product recall to prevent health hazards. The company has been instructed to cease production and sales of the affected items immediately and provide detailed information on their remaining stock within three days.
The SFA’s directive includes provisions for the company to appeal the decision within one week if they wish to contest the order. Meanwhile, the authority retains the right to pursue further legal actions, including penalties under relevant laws, for any violations detected.
