Coloured ice balls, drinks raise health concerns

RAWALPINDI: With summer setting in, brightly coloured ice balls and flavoured drinks sold on streets and outside schools in Rawalpindi are drawing health concerns.

Vendors commonly gather outside government and private schools during breaks and at closing time, selling ice balls for Rs10 to Rs20. Artificially flavoured cold drinks in seven to eight colours are also being offered for Rs10 per glass. The drinks are available in red, green, blue, yellow, orange and brown, while the ice balls are typically prepared in three or four colours according to a customer’s preference.

These low-cost items are not only attracting schoolchildren but adults as well. From 8am until midnight, stalls and pushcarts selling the colourful drinks and ice balls can be seen in neighbourhoods, markets and commercial areas across the city. Vendors are also selling low-grade flavoured juices under the names of different fruits at cheap prices.

Doctor warns of health risks

Former Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology medical superintendent Dr Ayaz Haider said the ice balls were harmful to health and could lead to throat and stomach illnesses. He said that although ice feels cold, its impact on the body could be damaging, and added that the colours used in the ice balls did not meet hygiene standards.

Dr Haider particularly cautioned against the red colouring, saying it was especially dangerous for health. He also said the syrups poured over the ice balls were unbranded and generally prepared at home. According to him, throat-related illnesses are spreading quickly because many people are consuming poor-quality ice cream, ice balls and market syrups instead of taking precautions in hot weather.

He further said vehicle smoke also contaminates such food items. Dr Haider noted that summer naturally increases demand for cold drinks, ice balls, kulfi, market syrups, sattu and sugarcane juice, making the season profitable for roadside sellers. He warned that dust settling on unhygienic kulfi, cold drinks and ice balls could also harm health.

The doctor said seasonal change often triggers throat and stomach problems and that even minor carelessness could result in illness. He advised parents to keep children away from such products and instead give them fresh fruit and vegetable juices prepared at home.

Children are increasingly spending their pocket money on these ice balls after school hours, while no action is being taken against the vendors.