PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority on Wednesday confiscated over 5,000 kilogrammes of fake tea leaves during a raid on a production unit in Rampura area here.

The action was taken on the directives of the authority’s director general Shahrukh Ali Khan, according to a statement.

The production unit was using a range of adulterants in the production process, from sugar and jaggery to unhealthy colours and husks.

According to the statement, over 600 litres of non-food grade colour were also confiscated, which were used to colour the tea leaves. The fake tea leaves were placed on a dirty rooftop, and the hygiene condition at the production unit was deplorable.

The authority said fake tea leaves used to be supplied to various parts of the province. Machines used in the production process were also confiscated.

Shahrukh Khan commended the team for the successful operation and said the authority had intensified crackdown on the adulteration mafia.

He said adulteration in food items was intolerable, and those found involved in the unhealthy practice would be dealt with strictly.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2022