83pc ghee, cooking oil samples fail test

LAHORE
AS many as 83 percent samples of ghee and cooking oil failed the testing of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) during the first three months of the year 2015.
Data available with The News revealed that PFA launched a special campaign against ghee and vegetable oil being sold in the provincial capital during the first three months in which a total of 92 samples were collected.
It is pertinent to note that 76 samples (83 percent of the total samples) were failed due to substandard quality and wrong and misleading labels. Out of the 76 samples, 53 were rejected due to wrong and misleading labels, four due to substandard quality and six due to both.
PFA again launched a very aggressive campaign against ghee and oil on Sunday and samples were taken from across the city. Sources said the samples of renowned brands were sent to public analyst for testing and notices were served on the companies.
According to data of the first three months campaign, 13 samples were collected from Ravi Town out of which nine (69 percent of the total samples) were failed, from Aziz Bhatti Town, eight samples were collected out of which six (75 percent) were failed, from Wagah Town six samples were collected and four (67 percent) were failed, from Shalimar Town 11 samples were collected and all were failed.
Data further showed that 10 samples were collected from Allama Iqbal Town out of which eight (80 percent) were failed, 17 samples were collected from Samanabad Town, out of which 14 (82 percent) were failed, from Data Town eight samples were collected and seven (87 percent) were failed, from Nishtar Town some 12 samples were collected and 11 (92 percent) were failed while from Ravi Town seven samples were collected out of which six (86 percent) were failed.
Deputy Director PFA Saqib Munir said the rejected samples did not contain specifications of the product, which included details of ingredients, manufacturing and expiry date, complete address and other such things. He said the authority had launched another special campaign against ghee and cooking oil to ensure its quality. He said the campaign would continue until April 15, 2015.