18 food outlets sealed

LAHORE:Punjab Food Authority (PFA) conducted raids across the province and shut down 18 food businesses on Monday.

Meanwhile, PFA officials have imposed Rs 0.363 million fines on numerous food business operators over violations of the rules. Further, food safety teams have served warning notices for improvement to more than 500 eateries in a daylong operation. This was informed by PFA Director General Irfan Memon. In Rawalpindi, PFA shut down Nawaz Foods and Bismillah Naan Shop for not taking measures to control pests and failing to meet hygienic working environment. A dairy safety team also sealed Kashmir Milk Shop for selling adulterated milk. PFA Attock team raided Al-Hamra Sweets and sealed it due to using chemicals and non-food graded colours in the preparation of sweets and non-compliance of instructions. Further, Al-Khalis Unit Store was sealed by PFA for selling expired food items. In Gujranwala, PFA team sealed Nawaz Salt Processing Unit in Machis Chattha over wrong labelling. Further, meat safety team closed down three poultry shops including Bilawal Poultry Sale Center, Bila Sale Center and Azan Poultry Sale Center in the area of Jinnah Road Nandi Pur. The director general said that poultry shops were shut down due to using non-food graded drums, failing to produce medical certificates and failing to meet hygienic working environment. Furthermore, PFA sealed Fazal Mart in Sargodha due to selling adulterated spices and poor storage system. In Khushab, Adeel Karyana Store was sealed for selling gutka. The sale of gutka was strictly prohibited in Punjab by PFA after imposing a ban on it. A team of PFA raided Gujjar Hotel and sealed it over the presence of insects, unhygienic conditions and non-compliance of inspections.

PFA raided Azam Sweets in Faisalabad and sealed it due to the presence of insects, failing to take measures to control pests and stinky environment. Apart from that, workers of the shop did not have medical certificates. PFA also sealed Madina Special Nimko over violation of labelling rules, usage of hazardous oil and poor cleanliness arrangements. Further, food authority team shut down Khaliq Khoya Bhatti in Jhang on account of adulteration and poor storage system.

Punjab Food Authority’s enforcement teams also sealed three food businesses in the South region. Malik Karyana Store was sealed for selling adulterated spices and expired food items in Bahawalpur. Food authority also shut down production unit of Jameel Fish Fry in Muzaffargarh and Madni Refreshment in DG Khan. Both food points were sealed due to using substandard ingredients, poor storage system, worst condition of hygiene and non-compliance of instructions.

The provincial food regulatory also imposed Rs72,000 fine in Sargodha, Rs121,000 fine in Rawalpindi, Rs38,000 fine in Faisalabad and Rs132,500 fine in South Punjab over violations.