The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Monday unearthed three illegal fat rendering units and discarded 3,000 litres dirty oil which was produced after melting the filths of animals.
The operation was led by PFA Director General Irfan Memon along with food safety team in the slum area of Karol Ghati, Lahore. He said that PFA shut down Sheikh Ramzan, Waris and Molvi Islam Fat Rendering units for extracting oil from animal fat and filths. All units were involved in the illegal food businesses and failed to produce the record of oil supply during raids. Meanwhile, extracted oil was supplied to local shopkeepers after mixing in the used cooking oil.
Irfan Memon further said that PFA sealed the premises after rooting out the machinery and unwholesome food including 1,000 kilo substandard stinky raw material, 30 empty drums and 13 large-sized ‘Karahy’ (a type of thick, circular and deep cooking-pot). He said that the dirty oil is injurious to health and the process of extraction of oil from animals’ filth causes environmental pollution. He said that this oil only can be used in the biodiesel production process.
Further, the authority has closed down 32 food points besides three fat rendering units during conducted its routine inspection operation across the province. The also penalized numerous food business operators (FBOs) with hefty fines and discarded a huge cache of substandard food in a daylong operation over the violations.
In South region, PFA shut down two Karyana stores in Bahawalpur while one each in Muzaffargarh and Raheem Yar Khan. The authority sealed all food points for preserving food graded items with non-food graded products, proved contamination in chilli and turmeric, an abundance of insects and worst condition of hygiene.
PFA Sargodha teams have sealed Mukhtar Milk Collection unit and Al-Hamd Dairy for selling adulterated milk and non-compliance of instructions. Further, meat safety teams closed down Sheikh Poultry ad Arshad Mutton Shop for selling unhygienic meat and failing to meet hygienic working environment. Javed Fat Rendering Unit was also sealed by PFA owing to extracted oil from animal fat. In Khushab, food safety team sealed Ameen Dhodha House due to the presence of substandard items and rats in the production area.
PFA has sealed Makki Traders and Abdullah Traders in Faisalabad due to misbranding, wrong labelling and worst condition of hygiene. A meat safety team closed down Jamal Chicken Shop for not having medical certificates and stinky environment. PFA Jhang team raided Fast Food Spices Unit over adulteration and neglected the previous instructions of the authority.
In Gujranwala division, according to the details, Take Aways food point had been sealed over the usage of substandard cooking oil and unavailability of medical certificates of workers. Similarly Jawad Sweets and Karyana Store, Shahzad Karyana Store and Iftkhar Karyana store had been sealed on the basis of selling adulterated spices, substandard storage and poor arrangements of cleanliness.
In Sialkot, meat safety teams had shut down Heera Meat Shop over not depositing previous fine, having no impression of stamp on meat and excess of insects.
Furthermore, PFA officials have imposed fine of Rs499, 500 owing to violate the regulations in Gujranwala Division. Meanwhile, food safety teams have discarded a huge quantity of unwholesome food items, adulterated spices, and toxic chemicals. 211 food point had been served warning notices by food safety teams.
In Rawalpindi, PFA has sealed two general stores and a dairy safety team raided Malik Distributor, Abdullah Traders, Khan General Store and Siddique General Store had been sealed over selling hazardous spices and adulterated red peppers. Nadeem Machhli Frosh (fish seller) and Jholay Lal Biryani had been sealed over the preparation of food with substandard food items.
Furthermore, on the basis of poor arrangements of cleanliness in production area, Café Eat 24, Chicken Broast and Food Palace were sealed by food safety teams. Khan Milk and Reham Dairy was sealed over selling tainted milk. PFA teams in Attock carried out a routine inspection sealed Fiaz Karyana and Jholay Lal Mutton Shop.
Furthermore, PFA officials have imposed Rs358, 000 fine in Rawalpindi. The teams also discarded a huge quantity of unwholesome food and issued warning notices for improvement to 240 food points.