An enforcement team of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has shut down a production unit and discarded thousands of kilograms substandard vermicelli during a raid conducted in the area of Gajjumata here on Wednesday.
Director General PFA Muhammad Usman said that PFA has sealed Bay-Misal Sawaiyan (vermicelli) for using loose colour with not traceability, bringing rusty machinery in practice, poor storage system, over failure to meet hygiene working environment and non-compliance with authority’s instructions. Food safety teams also discovered rodent droppings inside the production and storage area while visiting the site.
PFA has discarded 20 kgs loose colour without traceability and 2,000 kgs vermicelli. He further said that team confiscated as many as 4,290 kgs poor quality vermicelli and machinery. Thousands of kilograms inferior quality vermicelli were supplied in the market on daily basis. He said that the use of loose and non-food grade colour in the preparation of essential commodities cause of ulcer and stomach cancer. He said that PFA will make Punjab’s land narrow for adulteration mafia. The utmost priority of PFA is to ensure the provision of safe and healthy food for people in Punjab, DG added.