In a bid to ensure hygienic meat for citizens, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Thursday launched an operation against chicken suppliers and confiscated eight maunds dead chicken loaded on two trucks.
PFA Director General Irfan Memon along with meat safety teams led operation conducted in Tollinton Market and inspected 30 trucks. Two suppliers caught red-handed with the heavy amount of dead chicken loaded in trucks that were about to dispatch in and around the city smaller chicken points.
He said that PFA has registered a case against Sattar Poultry Supplier and Salamat Poultry Supplier in the concerned police station on supplying 320kg dead, sick and emaciated chicken.
He said that the use of unhygienic and dead meat was not fit for human consumption and causes health problems. DG said that all confiscated unhygienic meat was set ablaze after putting into incinerator as per eco-friendly policy. He has appealed citizens to avoid already slaughtered chicken and give preference to buy fresh meat.
Meanwhile, dairy safety teams have disposed of 4,000 litre adulterated milk out of 30,000 litre during examined the quality of milk at screening picket which set up at Kasur Bypass in the presence of DG. The authority disposed of milk after it was proved that milk had contamination of polluted water and harmful chemicals. The teams also detected the low level of Lactometer Reading in milk.
He said that dairy safety teams have examined the milk collection chillers and mill supply vehicles to inspect the quality of milk. He said that teams founded the low level of LR and fats in milk besides adulteration. He added that PFA is vigilantly monitoring the food industry including milk industry at all levels as per food law by placing pickets at the entry and exit points of the cities in Punjab. The Punjab Food Authority would not tolerate adulteration in milk at any coast.
During a massive crackdown, PFA watchdog team sealed Naseer Milk Collection Center in Vehari for removing cream from milk and not having a food license. In another raid, Nayyab Foods Factory was closed down over fake labelling and usage of substandard oil. PFA Bahawalpur team raided Islamic Model Secondary and sealed its canteen for selling carbonated drinks. Further, PFA shut down two general stores owing to sale adulterated spices and expired items. The director general further said that authority disposed of 1,005 litres impure milk while inspecting 3,945 litre milk loaded on six milk supply vehicles in South Punjab.
In Gujranwala, PFA meat safety team sealed Fresh Chicken Shop for not adopting cone slaughtering system, selling meat of emaciated chicken and stinky environment. PFA also sealed Bismillah Karyana Store and Dastagir Sawaiyan (vermicelli) over non-compliance of instructions. Similarly, authority shutdown Zamzama Restaurant for using loose colours and chemicals in the preparation of food dishes. Moreover, the authority stopped the production of King Beverages Industry by serving an emergency prohibition.
In Sargodha, Babar Bloch Daal Mill had been sealed as they were polishing the pulses with substandard and hazardous colours. As many as 8500kg pulse had been recovered from the sealed factory by the authority.
Furthermore, Abdul Rehman factory has been sealed again and one accused had been arrested who de-sealed factory illegally. After de-sealing the factory adulterated pulse and colours had vanished from the factory. During crackdown 9820kg daal channa had been confiscated. PFA sealed Akash Store in Rawalpindi and Jaan Muhammad KaryanaStore in Attock. Both shops were sealed for selling tainted food and failing to meet hygienic working environment.
Meanwhile, people can inform PFA concerning adulteration mafia on its Facebook Page, mobile application and Toll-Free number 1223. PFA is taking action day and night against adulterators for rooting out the menace of adulteration from Punjab.