The alarming findings of a Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) report on the quality of ghee, cooking oil and milk products must serve as a wake-up call for the country’s food regulatory system.
Presented to the National Price Monitoring Committee at a recent meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, the report shows that nearly half of vegetable ghee and substantial proportions of milk powder and loose milk available in the market fail to meet prescribed health standards. The findings point to a serious and systemic failure of food-safety oversight.
The most disturbing aspect of the report is the discovery of excessive trans fats, high peroxide values and free fatty acids, as well as the absence of essential vitamins in widely consumed products. Trans-fat levels reaching 15.87 grams per 100 grams, against the prescribed limit of 2 grams, are particularly worrisome. Excessive consumption of trans fats is associated with cardiovascular disease and other long-term health risks. Similarly, rancid or highly oxidised oils should never reach consumers, yet the findings suggest that substandard and unsafe products are entering the market without restraint.
Hamid Khan, Lahore
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026