The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has sealed Haideri Beverages and Beverages Plus, identified as the main distributor of Pepsi in the federal capital, following allegations of serious food safety violations, officials and sources said on Thursday.
According to sources, the facilities located in Humak Model Town, Islamabad, were raided without prior notice in a joint operation by the IFA and the ICT Assistant Commissioner. The action was reportedly taken after authorities received information pointing to major breaches of food safety and hygiene standards.
During the inspection, officials allegedly discovered expired and fungus-infested sugar being used in the production of Pepsi and other beverages. Sources said the inspection team documented four major violations, including failure to comply with previous directives issued by the food authority.
Among the most serious findings were around 150 sugar bags with tampered expiry dates, suggesting deliberate mislabelling. Inspectors also found cockroach infestation on several sugar bags, raising concerns over contamination, as well as sugar being stored directly on the floor, in violation of basic hygiene and food safety regulations.
Food authority officials collected two separate samples of spilled sugar from the premises for laboratory testing. Pending the results of these tests, the authorities sealed a total of 54,874 sugar bags across both facilities, a move described by officials as unprecedented in scale.
In addition to sealing the sugar stock, the entire warehouses were shut down. All production, sale and purchase activities at the facilities have been suspended until further notice, effectively halting operations of the distributor.
Officials said the expired sugar alone is estimated to be worth millions of rupees, underscoring the financial as well as public health implications of the alleged violations.
The action reflects the IFA’s broader crackdown on food safety lapses in the capital, with officials reiterating a zero-tolerance policy toward practices that endanger public health.
ProPakistani has sought an official response from Pepsi regarding the allegations and the sealing of its main distributor. The company’s position will be added to the report once a response is received.
