On the directions of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman, the food safety teams under have carried out special food inspection drive across Punjab to inspect the quality of food at Bus Terminals and Lorri Ada.
During the operation, the provincial food regulatory body shut down four food points, punished 87 food business operators and issued warning notices for improvement on 656 eateries. Meanwhile, the authority discarded 150kg rancid oil, 100 litres expired carbonated drinks, 80kg sweets, loose adulterated ketchup and a huge quantity of gutka. It is pertinent to mention here that the sale of gutka was strictly prohibited in Punjab after imposing a ban on it by the Punjab Food Authority.
Muhammad Usman said that food watchdogs have inspected 270 food points in Lahore division, 297 eateries in Rawalpindi Zone, 138 in Multan and 46 shops in Muzaffargarh Zone. He said that authority closed down food points for failing to meet food safety standards, using rusty oil, the presence of expired products in stinky freezers, rats in the storage area, an abundance of cockroaches and worst condition of hygiene. The teams also witnessed the sale of expired carbonated drinks, prohibited gutka and germs-infested sweets/confectionery. He said that thousands of travelers approached food points and tuck shops at bus stop to beat the hunger.
The director general further stated that PFA is continuously checking of eateries at GT Road and Motorway Service Areas along with Lorri Adda and bus terminals, upon the directives of CM Punjab. The purpose of the checking was ensuring the provision of safe food for passengers and commuters as per the food standards. He mentioned that the inspection drive to be continued until the availability of quality and healthy food in Punjab. He further said that the use of hazardous quality food is injurious to health for people and causes of different health problems like food poisoning.