LAHORE: Authorities in Lahore conducted a major crackdown in the Thokar area against suppliers selling fake milk labeled as cow or buffalo milk.
About 2,000 litres of adulterated milk were seized and destroyed, and a case has been registered against those responsible.
The supplier’s tanker, numbered LXK-7964, was intercepted early in the morning while preparing to deliver the fake milk to local shops.
“On inspection, powder, chemicals, substandard ghee, and fake thickening agents were recovered from the site,” said DG Food Authority Asim Javed.
Javed confirmed that on-spot tests failed, proving the milk was adulterated. Laboratory analysis revealed the milk contained water, powder, and vegetable ghee, which can be harmful if consumed in excess.
He urged citizens to report any fraudulent activity related to milk and dairy products by calling 1223 or messaging the Food Authority’s Facebook page. “An international-standard policy is being introduced to ensure the supply of pure milk,” said Javed.
He added that, under directives from the Chief Minister of Punjab, strict action is being taken against anyone involved in food adulteration, with all resources deployed to eliminate the production and sale of fake milk.
Last week, authorities dismantled a nationwide network producing synthetic milk in Haripur’s Hattar Industrial Zone, arresting three suspects. The group had been supplying adulterated milk to Punjab and other provinces.
During a late-night raid, a factory producing hundreds of thousands of litres of fake milk was sealed, and three individuals were arrested. Director General Wasif Saeed said the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority uncovered the network during an intelligence-led operation.
The raid, led by Director Operations Yusuf and Director Technical Dr Abdul Sattar Shah, recovered large quantities of chemicals, raw materials, and machinery used for synthetic milk production. Tankers filled with unsafe milk were seized and destroyed.
The factory, which had been operating illegally and supplying major cities including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, was producing nearly 100,000 litres of synthetic milk daily. The manager and two others were arrested, the premises sealed, machinery taken into government custody, and an FIR lodged with legal proceedings underway.
DG Saeed also noted that the Haripur Food Authority district team had been suspended for negligence. He warned that those endangering public health would face strict action and severe penalties for such “food terrorists.”