PFA seals four factories, confiscates 5,700kg harmful food

Rawalpindi : The Punjab Food Authority has unearthed four factories and confiscated 5,700 kilograms harmful food during a crackdown on them in the metropolis here on Wednesday.

All food points were involved in the businesses of producing adulterated and unwholesome food products which injurious to health for consumers.

The raids were conducted under the supervision of PFA Director General Captain (r) Muhammad Usman in different areas of Rawalpindi, upon the tip off of the vigilance cell.

Muhammad Usman said that food authority sealed Sadiq Oil over the presence of palmolein oil and confiscated 2,480 litres used oil that usually brought into the practice of food preparation after recycling.

In another raid, PFA sealed factory (Yousaf Zai Oil Merchant) located at Akbari Market Ganjmandi due to presence of a huge quantity of untraceable oil from the spot. He said that food authority has seized 1,100 litres adulterated loose oil, which samples also sent for laboratory test.

PFA also raided on a ‘nimko’ production unit and sealed it for preparing ‘nimko’ by adding ‘matri besan’ (gram flour) in it, factory was functional in the area of Hazara Colony. The team took into possession as many as 592 kg ‘matri daal’, 270 kg ‘nimko’, and 40 kg spices during the raid.

He further said that that PFA closed down Zeeshan Grinding Unit producing adulterated spices. The team also witnessed improper cleanliness arrangements. The raiding team seized 1,060 kg coriander powder.

The director general said that PFA has issued fine tickets of Rs30,000 and 20,000 to Abdul Majid Traders and Hafiz Daal Mills respectively. Fine was imposed over found minor violations of the PFA Act.

The authority also served warning notices for improvement to two food business operators. He said that the use of rancid/used oil become a cause of cancer. PFA would continue its activities against adulteration mafia without any discrimination as well as to ensure the provision of food free from all sorts of adulteration, he mentioned.