The Punjab Food Authority’s enforcement teams on Wednesday sealed 26 food businesses over adulteration, forgery and non-compliance of the authority instructions. The provincial food regulatory body also slapped fine of Rs486,500 on more than 40 food business operators (FBOs) due to violations.
The action was taken against FBOs during a massive crackdown in Punjab. Food safety teams have thoroughly examined the food quality, hygiene and food standards during the operation. In Lahore, the dairy safety teams of PFA set up a screening pick at Babu Sabu Interchange under the supervision of its Director General Irfan Memon and disposed of 15,000 litres adulterated milk while checking 25,000 litres milk.
Adulterated milk was being carried on different vehicles which checked at screening pickets. According to the details, teams found LR level very low in tainted milk as well as the contamination of urea and polluted water. This was informed by PFA DG.
Irfan Memon said that tankers of milk carrier vehicles were found very dirty and rusted during the inspection. In last week, more than 50,000 litres tainted milk had been discarded by the authority. PFA analyser machines are fully able to examine any kind of adulteration in milk. This chemically contaminated milk is very injurious to children and elders as it causes fatal diseases, he added.
He further said that as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan, massive crackdowns are being carried out against adulteration mafia across the province. He said dairy safety teams check milk carrier vehicles on a daily basis to ensure the provision of healthy and safe milk to the public.
PFA Faisalabad team sealed Sabir Synthetic Milk over produced fake milk with by using the adulteration of powder, oil, polluted water and chemicals in it. PFA has registered a case against three accused in the nearest police station after apprehended from the spot.
In another raid, the team shut down Jalandhar Jaggery unit for producing fake jaggery with the help of hazardous syrup, artificial flavours, loose colours and chemicals. Meanwhile, the raiding team witnessed poor storage system, stinky environment, an abundance of insects in the production area and unavailability of labelling on product. Apart from that, workers of the unit did not have medical certificates. During the raid, the authority seized 5,700kg substandard jaggery, 150 litres poor quality sugar syrup, 256 litres oil, 200kg powder and 1,900 litres adulterated milk along with machinery.
In Rawalpindi, the authority sealed Saghar Foods and Waheed Associates over stored adulterated food and expired meat. The teams also shut down Luxury Foods and Faisal Traders due to repackaging of expired products, an abundance of insects and non-compliance of authority instructions. Two Karyana stores were sealed for selling substandard and tainted spices.
A food safety team also stopped Waheed Associate by imposing an emergency prohibition order for not having a Halal Foods Certificates and failing to produce a record. Meanwhile, PFA has seized 52,000 kilo fish; 4,000kg meat, 100kg chilli, 150 cartons of energy drinks, 150 cartons of bubble gum, 50 cartons of ketchup, 263 cartons of chocolate, 2000 fake labels and many other items.
PFA Sialkot meat safety teams have sealed four poultry shops for selling the meat of sick, emaciated and dead chicken meat. The raiding teams also witnessed an abundance of insects and the worst condition of hygiene. In Gujranwala, the team shut down Hunza Ghee Industry owing to violate labelling law and poor cleanliness arrangements. Similarly, PFA sealed Bilal Traders over wrong labelling, Shahzad General Store for selling expired food and Riaz Grinding unit due to selling tainted spices.
The teams have sealed seven Karyana stores during different raids in South region due to selling adulterated red chilli and turmeric powder, not taking measures to control pests, not having food licenses and failing to meet hygienic working environment. All these food points were sealed in Vehari, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, DG Khan and Layyah. A team of PFA Bahawalnagar sealed Rehman Dairy Shop and Mazhar Milk Collection Center for violation of the rules of food Act. PFA Rajanpur team closed down Bismillah Poultry Shop for not adopting cone slaughtering system and worst condition of hygiene.