The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Sunday unearthed a factory producing fake carbonated drinks with artificial flavours and hazardous chemicals in order to meet the consumption of drink in the upcoming holy month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, the authority has lodged an FIR against the owner of a fake beverage factory on account of forgery and for taking hostage a raiding team while carrying out an operation against it. The raid was conducted upon information provided by the vigilance cell of PFA. A team caught red-handed producing fake beverages and seized 2,000 ready fizzy bottles and a huge quantity of raw material from the spot. The factory was functional in the home near Thokar Niaz Bag.
Director General, Punjab Food Authority, Captain (R) Muhammad Usman said that PFA has foiled an attempt to supply thousands of litres fake beverages in the market after unearthing a factory which was running as an unlawful. He said that the team also took supply record in possession as evidence from the spot and started an investigation of this matter to withdraw the material from the market. He said that adulteration mafia usually dynamic in the preparation of fake cola drinks, ketchup, and impure spices before Ramadan. He said that adulteration mafia could not elude from the PFA. He has directed operations and vigilance wings to accelerate their action against adulterators in Punjab. The provincial food regulatory body is fully active against violators especially adulterators and taking strict action against them according to the PFA Act, he added.