PFA continues operation against spurious food items

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Thursday sealed three food points and discarded thousands of kilograms of unwholesome food while carrying out an operation against adulterated milk and other food items in different districts of the province.

Food safety teams inspected dozens of eateries and examined the hygiene condition and food quality there in a daylong operation. PFA DG Irfan Memon said that dairy safety teams discarded 1,900 litre chemically contaminated milk in Fazlia Colony in the area of Shah Jamal, Lahore.

Irfan Memon said the teams discarded hundreds of litres of milk which was confiscated from Al-Hafiz, Sakhi Shah Jamal, Ahmed, Arshad, Botta, Talib and Akram milk shops. All these food points were found involved in the wicked practice of milk adulteration. PFA is checking milk though modern lactoscan machines.

As many as 2,200 litre milk was examined at nine milk shops during the inspection operation. The authority issued warning notices for improvement to the business operators. In Multan, PFA sealed Mughal Industry at Nagh Shah Chowk and Malik Foods on Purana Dunyapur Road. The PFA DG said that both units were closed down for using expired flavours and untraceable ingredients. The raiding teams also witnessed improper labelling on products and poor cleanliness arrangements. He said use of artificial sweeteners and substandard pulp in drinks lead to diabetes, kidney and heart problems.

According to details, the authority seized 2,220 litre mango drinks, 1,950kg mango pulp, 1,000 litre mango juice, 25kg pomegranate flavour, 23kg expired artificial sweeteners, two filling plants and 1,200 empty bottles.

PFA Sialkot team sealed Shah Chakki (grinding) unit located at Bogra Hajipura over proven contamination of daal matri and corn in chickpea flour. The team also witnessed poor storage system and worst condition of hygiene. The PFA DG said that adulteration is a heinous crime and adulterators would be dealt with an iron hand.