Rampant Food Adulteration Plays Havoc

Asmat Shah Garwaki

Peshawar: As many as 5.4 million school-aged children in Pakistan would be obese by 2030 if the unchecked sale and manufacturing of unsafe food, including chips and snacks, continued at such a high rate in markets, according to a report by the World Obesity Foundation.

According to the World Health Organization report, the number of children aged five to 19 with obesity increased from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016 in the world due to the consumption of junk food during school time.

Like other developing countries, Pakistan is also being faced with the monster challenge of overweight and obesity issues, mostly contracted by people excessively consuming unhygienic and substandard food that plays havoc with human health.

Government Hospital Pabbi Nowshera Medical Department Head Dr Sirzamin Khan stated that obesity and overweight, mostly caused by eating unhygienic and substandard fast food, are the fifth leading cause of global deaths.

Causing many non-communicable diseases (NCD), obesity contributes to 60-70 percent of deaths in the world, including in Pakistan, informed Dr Sirzamin

Dr Khan added that 30 percent of the world population is overweight, while 44 percent of the burden of diabetes, 23 percent of heart diseases, and seven to 41 percent of certain cancers are attributed to overweight and obesity.

Obesity contributes to 60-70 per cent of deaths in the world, including in Pakistan: Dr Sirzamin Khan

Head of Department further said that Pakistan has ranked 10th out of 188 countries, with about 50 percent of the population being overweight or obese.

Citing the Pakistan Health Commission’s 2018 report, he said about 11 percent of children in the country are suffering from being overweight and more than five percent of obesity.

Data compiled from hospitals revealed that 40 percent to 50 percent of children are either overweight or obese. That is quite alarming, and health policymakers need to take prompt measures for its prevention.

“I have brought my son Ibrahim Khan (7) for a medical checkup after he complained about irritable bowel syndrome due to excessive eating of chips and snacks being sold openly in shops and markets in villages and towns of Peshawar and Nowshera districts without any check,” said Sumbal Riaz, a housewife of Pabbi tehsil.

“My son was in great pain during the last couple of days due to piles, irritable bowel syndrome, and obesity problems diagnosed by doctors, citing overeating of chips, snacks, and high-carbohydrate fatty foods along with beverages. Now I am going to Peshawar for his proper treatment from specialist doctors,” Sumbal added with sobbing eyes.

The number of children aged five to 19 with obesity increased from 11 million in 1975 to 124 million in 2016 in the world due to the consumption of junk food during school time: WHO report

The open sale of unsafe and substandard foods, including burgers, shawarma, potato chips, snacks, beverages, and other unhygienic foods, in markets, bazaars, and vendor shops in Peshawar and its peripheries, especially in front of schools, is adversely affecting the health of students and children.

Plenty of shops, vendors and food stalls can be seen at historic Qissa Khwani bazaar, Namak Mandai, Karimpura, Charsadda Road, Faqirabad, Hastnagri, Tehkal, Board bazaar, and other localities that are selling unsafe cuisines and expired foods, exposing people to different diseases, including obesity and stomach disorders.

Lack of attention to children’s food needs, the mushroom growth of digital and social media, and limited sports events at union council and village levels have largely contributed to the rise of obesity cases in the country, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, further said HoD Khan.

He added that overweight youth could easily develop diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndromes, digestive disorders and other health-related complications.

Recommending daily exercises and a healthy, balanced diet besides sports, Dr Sirzamin suggested that the business of chips and beverages needs to be regulated, and sugary drinks and calorie-unsafe fast food should be avoided to protect our loved ones from fatal diseases, including obesity.

About 5.4 million school-aged children in Pakistan would be obese by 2030 if the unchecked sale and manufacturing of unsafe food continued at such a high rate in markets: World Obesity Foundation report,

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority (KPFS&HFA) Spokesman Khan Ghalib said that operations against unsafe and substandard foods are expedited across the province, where 136,690 inspections were conducted and 539,982 kg and litres of substandard food items were discarded this year.

Ghaib mentioned that thousands of litres of counterfeit beverages and adulterated milk were discarded after a detailed examination because they were not safe for human consumption.

KPFS&HFA Director General Shahrukh Ali Khan informed that zero tolerance has been adopted against elements involved in the sale and purchase of adulterated food items in the province.

Mobile food testing laboratories were established in all divisional headquarters with the latest technology and testing equipment, with the ability to test over 20 food items instantly, Ali added.

The labs cover a range of food tests, including testing of milk, flour, edible oil, ghee, water, and other food items on the spot. He said the government has planned to establish such labs in all districts of KP.

About 11 percent of children in the country are suffering from overweight and more than five percent of obesity: PHC’s 2018 Report

The authority, set up under the KP Food Safety Authority Act of 2014, has hired volunteers to monitor food safety and quality, working alongside regular staff in the field for prompt action.

Shahrukh further stated that the monitoring of food services in open markets, hotels and restaurants increased. Special focus is being paid to bringing positive changes in the behaviour of the food handlers and owners for better quality assurance and food services to consumers.

KP Food Authority, operating under the province’s Health Department, is the second such regulatory body in the country after Punjab set up its Food Authority in 2011.

Asmat Shah Garwaki is a Peshawar-based APP correspondent. The feature report is released by APP.