The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed fat rendering unit, maraba (jam) unit and a sweets factory during held a grand operation under the supervision of its Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman in Lahore and Sheikhupura on Tuesday.
During the operation, the authority has discarded more than 11,000 kilograms prepared food and raw material including 4,000kg animal’s filth (fat), 1600kg substandard oil, 2800kg maraba covered with the fungs layers, 1900kg daal matri, 500kg vermicelli and 280kg matri gram flour.
Muhammad Usman said that PFA has raided Zulifqar Fat Rendering Unit in the area of Kot Abdulmalik, and sealed it over found evidence regarding selling substandard oil after adding oil (extracted from animal’s filth) in used oil. He said that extracted oil from animal filth could be used in bio-diesel as per PFA Law. In another raid, PFA closed down Al-Masomiya Punjab Fruit located at Hiran Minar. DG said that unit was sealed for producing adulterated maraba by adding artificial sweetness (mathas), loose colours and chemicals in it. He further said that the team also found an abundance of flies and unavailability of a food license. Food authority also sealed a unit of Qadri Sweets and Nimko for not complying with authority instructions, preparing substandard quality nimko through poor quality spices, daal matri and colours. He told that the use of daal matri is strictly prohibited in eatables. He has appealed citizens to prefer homemade food instead of store-bought food items. PFA is taking concrete steps to ensure the provision of safe food as per the vision of Prime Minister.