ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee has expressed concern about a decline in mango production, alongside the growing use of artificial sweeteners in beverages, which has adversely affected demand for natural mango-pulp-based products inthe wake of changes to the country’s regulatory framework.
The National Assembly Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research reviewed safety standards for synthetic mango-flavoured beverages, mango production challenges, and the export strategy.
MNA Tariq Hussain chaired the meeting, which was also attended by representatives of the Multan Mango Growers Association.
At the outset, representatives of the Multan Mango Growers Association briefed the commit-tee on the significant decline in mango production in recent years. They expressed concerns that artificial sweeteners in beverages have adversely affected demand for natural mango-pulpbased products.
It was further stated that prior to 2021, natural mango pulp was widely used in juice production.
However, subsequent regulatory changesbythePakistanStandards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), which permitted increased use of artificial additives and chemical sweeteners,have contributed to reduced consumption of natural mango-based products and may be linked to long-term public health concerns.
On the healthissue,the representative of the Ministry of National Health Services presented findings from the National Institute of Health (NIH), indicating potential adverse health effects associated with the frequent consumption of synthetic beverages. The committee noted that mango production has declined from 2.2m tonnes to 1.8m tonnes in recent years.