LAHORE: Even though the governments in the three of the four provinces of the country have already banned sale of Chinese salt Ajinomoto,
the Supreme Court of Pakistan still came up with its own directives, banning the sale of the controversial food product across the country on Saturday.
The salt was already banned in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pukhtunkhwa when the SC announced its decision in a suo motu notice on sale of Ajinomoto and used cooking oil.
Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar observed that he could not allow the sale of the salt because of its hazardous affects on human health.
Later, he inquired from the advocate general about the whereabouts of Mustafa Ramday, the head of a court-appointed commission tasked to probe the issue.
On January 15, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) banned Ajinomoto after the authority found it hazardous for health.
According to the PFA, the salt contains Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavour enhancer said to cause asthma, headaches, and even brain damage.
The Sindh and Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa governments enforced a ban on the salt towards the end of February.
According to some reports, regular use of the product can cause long-term issues like high blood pressure, autism, hormonal imbalance, epilepsy, food allergies, asthma, reduction in bile formation, cancer and possible sterility in females.
Published in Daily Times, March 4th 2018.
