ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The National Assembly Standing Committee on Food Security revealed that juice companies are using artificial flavors instead of mango pulp, raising questions about consumer health and the impact on Pakistan’s mango industry.
The meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research was held under the chairmanship of Chairman Syed Tariq Hussain, in which issues related to mango production, juice industry, agricultural issues, fertilizer prices, and exports were reviewed.
Giving a briefing at the meeting, Pakistan Mango Association President Malik Jahanzeb said that the local consumption of mango pulp in the country was about 180,000 tons, but has fallen to between 18,000 and 20,000 tons since 2022.
It is estimated that the consumption of mango pulp may decrease further in 2026. Malik took the stand that juice companies have increasingly relied on artificial flavors instead of real mango pulp following regulatory changes introduced in 2021.
Malik Jahanzeb argued that artificial flavoring poses health concerns and called for its use to be banned.
Chairman of the committee, Syed Hussain Tariq, expressed concern over the issue, stating that the widespread use of artificially flavored beverages could have negative health consequences and has already affected mango sales and farmers’ incomes. He questioned how the relevant regulations were amended to allow such products in the market.
The Secretary National Food Security told the committee that the matter had been discussed extensively, but no final decision could be taken yet. The committee subsequently directed the relevant authorities to inspect and test juice products and submit a report.
In the meeting, Federal Minister for National Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain said that farmers and juice companies should be called before the committee so that the position of all parties can be heard.
The committee also instructed health authorities to review the ingredients and quality standards of juice products and submit their findings within one week.
Officials from the Punjab Food Authority informed lawmakers that fruit juices are required to contain at least 25 percent fruit content. The meeting was also told that the use of cardboard packaging has been made mandatory for fruit exports.
