The Sindh Food Authority (SFA) held its first-ever Scientific Panel meeting on Oil and Ghee, aiming to improve food safety and enforce stricter regulations.

The meeting, held in Karachi, included representatives from Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), and Balochistan food authorities, alongside experts and industry stakeholders.

The panel, formed on November 8, 2024, focused on key issues such as packaging, safety standards, and compliance with health regulations. Dr. Ahmad Ali Shaikh, SFA’s Technical Director, opened the session, highlighting the agenda.

The panel called for banning the sale of loose, unpackaged oil in retail markets due to health risks. It proposed mandatory nutritional labels and stricter packaging rules to ensure consumer safety.

Discussions also addressed industrial oil procurement practices, where lack of hygiene and safety compliance was flagged. The panel recommended a certification system for bulk oil suppliers, coupled with routine inspections.

Another major issue was non-compliance with trans-fat limits. Samples showed excessive trans-fat levels, exceeding the 2 percent permissible limit.

The panel recommended reformulation of products, awareness campaigns for industries, and stringent penalties for violators to enforce adherence to trans-fat standards.

SFA Director General Muzammil Hussain Halepoto stressed that the panel’s recommendations would shape future regulatory actions.

He highlighted the authority’s collaboration with the World Food Programme to fortify wheat flour in eight districts of Sindh, combating malnutrition.

Halepoto condemned unsafe practices like selling open cooking oil and its repeated use in industries. He vowed stricter enforcement of food safety rules to protect public health.

The Scientific Panel will serve as an ongoing platform for research-driven policymaking and reforms, aiming to enhance the quality and safety of oil and ghee products in Sindh.