Nine outlets sealed over food safety laws violation

LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Monday sealed nine food businesses including two cold stores and penalised more than 60 other outlets over violating food safety laws during crackdowns launched across the province. The authority served notices on 540 food points for improvement during daylong activity.

Additional Director General (operations) Rafia Haider said on the directions of PFA Director General Noor ul Amin Mengal, Food Safety Teams (FSTs) conducted raids on cold stores after expiring a deadline. PFA teams examined 56 cold stores and fined six cold stores in Lahore. Two cold stores of well-known shopping malls were sealed in Johar Town areas. She said the authority found multiple violations of food safety law like improper cleanliness arrangements, presence of expired products, use of non-food grade colour, fungus layer on food and presence of rotten vegetables and fruits.

She said the authority checked hundreds of food businesses, including sweet units, ice factories, milk shops, restaurants and others, across the province. The teams inspected the production of food articles, quality of ingredients, equipment and food licences.

PFA sealed two food points each in Gujranwala and Faisalabad besides one each in Multan, DG Khan and Bahawalpur divisions.

The teams issued a cumulative fine of Rs 351,200 on more than 60 food Business Operators (FBOs) including Rs 47,500 fine on five outlets in Multan division, Rs 142,000 fine in Rawalpindi, Rs 7,000 fine in Sahiwal, Rs18,000 fine in Sargodha, Rs31.000 fine in Lahore, Rs 55,500 fine in Gujranwala, Rs33,200 in DG Khan and Rs17,000 fine in Faisalabad and Bahawalpur divisions.

Food safety teams discarded huge quantity of substandard food stuff including 500-kg adulterated pepper, 80-kg sweets, 90-litre rancid oil, 150-litre fake carbonated drinks, substandard ketchup, 250-kg coloured Slanty, 140-kg substandard ice cream and several kilograms of other poor quality material.