PFA seals 23 food points over adulteration, poor hygiene

LAHORE : Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed 23 food points, including six food businesses of ice-cream unit, rendering and dairy units situated in the provincial metropolis Thursday.

Officials said all food premises were sealed for not complying with PFA’s instructions, SOPs, food safety issues, wrong labelling on products and on account of adulteration.

PFA’s Additional Director General (Operations) Rafia Haider said that Fine Kulfa production unit and its store was sealed for supplying a frozen dessert in the name of Kulfa (ice-cream) in wedding ceremonies. Another frozen dessert factory was sealed in the Manawan area which was functional in the name of Aslam Sons.

It was sealed due to wrong labelling of products, presence of cats and use of unhygienic ingredients in the preparation of food. Besides, rendering unit was closed for preparing ghee and edible oil from animal wastes in Talat Park. PFA has also registered a case against rendering unit for showing resistance.

Besides, Rahat Dairy and Imran Salt processing factory were sealed over failure to ensure salt fortification and improper cleanliness arrangements. PFA’s watchdogs also disposed of 150 litre adulterated milk during the raid. Rafia Haider said PFA's purpose is not to disturb the business of community which is associated with food industry in any terms but the Authority is their well-wisher and is playing a role in checking adulteration for the betterment of Food Industry in Punjab. PFA has also appreciated Achha Dairy, Millac Dairy and Malmo Foods for maintaining the food standards.

ADG Operations told reporters that food safety teams have closed down 23 food points and imposed Rs626,700 fine on more than 70 food businesses. The teams have sealed six food premises in DG Khan, four in Sargodha, two in Rawalpindi, one in Faisalabad and five each in Multan and Gujranwala divisions.

She said PFA imposed Rs97,000 fine on 56 food points in Multan, Rs67,000 fine on eight points in Rawalpindi, Rs25,000 fine in Sahiwal, Rs91,500 fine on six food outlets in Sargodha, Rs78,000 on 16 shops in Gujranwala, Rs106,000 on two eateries in Kasur, Rs72,000 fine on 10 points in Faisalabad and Rs90,200 fine on 20 food outlets in DG Khan.

A huge quantity of substandard products was discarded, including 231,800 packs of gutka, more than 13,000 litre adulterated milk, 150kg substandard meat, 100kg sweets, Chinese salt, rotten fruits and hundreds of kilograms spice. She said the Authority is fully committed to ensure the food regulations and to overcome the prevailing food safety issues in Punjab under the umbrella of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and PFA Director General Noorul Amin Mengal.

Meanwhile, PFA DG Noorul Amin Mengal gave Rs50,000 as prize to a local restaurant on MM Alam Road for complying with PFA's rules and regulations, SOPs and hygiene. The reward was the result of introduction of dairy products instead of frozen desserts.