The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed two big eateries during its annual inspection campaign of three and four star hotels across the province. The campaign was kicked off on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.
PFA Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman said that food safety teams have inspected 27 hotels in a daylong operation on Sunday. The teams have visited nine hotels in Lahore, five each in Faisalabad, Rawalpindi and Gujranwala, two in Sialkot and one in Multan. Meanwhile, PFA imposed Rs110,000 cumulative fine on five eateries and issued warning notices for improvement to 19 hotels.
He said that hotels were sealed for using expired khoya, cheese and meat, loose tainted spices and rotten vegetables. The teams also found poor storage system, stale fish, poor quality coconut and a huge quantity of spoiled semolina. He said that the raiding teams thoroughly examined kitchens, production areas, warehouses, dining areas and other sections of the hotels.
Muhammad Usman said that PFA is checking hotels as per its inspection schedule for 2019. He further said that PFA will ensure the implementation of the law and bound food industry to follow the regulations also. The director general said that PFA is taking indiscriminate action against the food business operators by following the directions of the Punjab government. PFA would allow only those food business operators (FBOs) in Punjab who follow the hygiene principles, he added.