13 school canteens sealed in Pindi

Rawalpindi: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Thursday sealed 13 school canteens for selling carbonated cola drinks during a special drive to ensure safe and healthy food to children in schools.

Additional Director General (Operations) Rafia Haider informed that PFA’s teams visited 589 public and private schools during whole day activity in Punjab. PFA teams served improvement notices to 314 canteens and imposed fine on 12 school canteens for not conforming to PFA instruction. She said that following the Director General, PFA Noor-ul-Amin Mengal’s directions, operation was carried out.

The food safety teams sealed three canteens in Rawalpindi, two in Gujranwala, three in Jhang, two in Multan city and one each in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan and Laya district. The ADG Operations said that fine was imposed on 12 canteens due to not adoption of proper cleanliness arrangements and poor food hygiene issues. She said that PFA is ensuring the implementation of PFA laws and non-availability of banned food articles (like cola drinks) in schools. She said that food license of violating canteens will be cancelled in case of failing comply laws in next drive.

Rafia further said that PFA will deal the violators with iron hand and our teams are fully active in order to ensure availability of quality products and purpose of raids was to make sure either all the food points are abiding by the ban on cola and energy drinks imposed by PFA.