Eat safe: PFA issues grade report for 85 city restaurants

LAHORE:

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has issued a list of over 80 food outlets graded according to the quality of their food.

PFA Director General Dr Sajjad Chauhan said the authority would eventually extend the grading system to all districts of the province. The authority has completed grading of around 85 restaurants. Out of them, 38 are Category A, having zero risk associated with them. In the B Category, there are 31 restaurants. A total of 12 restaurants are in Category C and four in Category D.

The scale divides eateries into A, B, C, and D categories based on their score in the range of 60 and 100. Category A restaurants will have a score of 90 or above. Their food will be certified by the PFA as having zero risk associated with it. The food served at eateries in Category B (a score of 80 to 89) will be certified as carrying negligible risk. Food in Category C eateries with a score between 70 and 79 will be medium risk. Category D restaurants with a score between 60 and 69 have been graded low risk.

The PFA will seal all eateries with a score below 60 (high risk category).

The grading system will also be used to develop a schedule for inspection of restaurants. The guidelines say that Category A eateries will be inspected every three months, Category B every two months, Category C every month and Category D every fortnight. According to the website, the Salt’n Pepper Village Restaurant, MM Alam Road has the highest score of 100. Further on the list are: Bundu Khan Restaurant, Johar Town and Liberty Market; Jack The Rebel, Johar Town; Optp, Johar Town; KFC Restaurant, Johar Town; McDonald’s, Model Town Link Road; and Hardee’s, MM Alam Road; with 95 marks. Timmy’s - Pizza, Shakes, Burger, Canal Road; Sarpino’s Pizzeria, Johar Town; Bar BQ Tonight, Mehmood Kasuri Road; Cafe Aylanto, MM Alam Road; and Freddy’s Café, MM Alam Road; have scored 92 each.

Similarly, Domino’s Pizza, Opposite Bahria Town Sector A; Chick Factory, Shalimar Link Road; KFC, The Mall Road; Chili Chutney, Johar Town; Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Johar Town; Balochi Sajji, Gaddafi Stadium; Red Lotus and Lahore Gates in Hospitality Inn Hotel, Egerton Road; NY212 Pizza, Johar Town; Page 102, MM Alam Road; Alfredo the Grill, MM Alam Road; La Rousse Cucina, MM Alam Road; Domino’s Pizza, Johar Town; Cinnabon Bakery Café, Mehmood Ali Kasuri Road; McDonald’s, MM Alam Road; Al Nakhal, Johar Town; Subway, MM Alam Road; Cock ‘N’ Bull, Johar Town; Optp, MM Alam Road; Hardee’s, Thokar Niaz Baig; and X2, Gulberg II got 90 scores. All these restaurants fall under category A and have no risk associated with their products.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Restaurant Owners’ Association president Kamran Sheikh said the system was confusing. “How could a restaurant move into Category A even if it had previously been sealed or fined?” he asked.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.