KABUL): The Food Quality Control Commission on Monday charged a number of shopkeepers with selling unhealthy food in violation of municipality rules in the central capital Kabul.
The commission launched the fifth round of a campaign against the sale of substandard food in the 4th police district, raiding more than 50 shops, the panel chief said.
Hafizullah Wali Rahimi said the campaign was aimed at preventing the sale of poor-quality and expired food items in the market.
Of the 50 shops checked, 15 were found selling poor-quality food items, he said, adding four shopkeepers had been charged and some food seized for laboratory tests.
He said the materials confiscated for a laboratory check included oil, beverages, biscuits, soaps, shampoos, chocolates, tomato pastes, pickles and non-food items like tooth brushes.
Manufactures of some unhealthy beverages were also referred to the Attorney General Office (AGO).
Rahimi said the campaign involved various governmental organs and was intended to prevent the sale of substandard edibles in a largely unregulated bazaar.
Ministry of Public Health official Mohammad Idrees Tokhi hoped the crackdown would help discourage the sale of low quality food.
Some shopkeepers welcomed the campaign, but others expressed their opposition to it.
A shopkeeper in the Tahia Maskan area of Kabul, Jamal, told Pajhwok Afghan News that shopkeepers should examine items to avoid purchasing expired stuff.
But another shopkeeper, Fardin, said most shopkeepers were illiterate and unable to understand expiry dates or product quality. He believed the problem could be better addressed by customs staff.
mds/ma
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