Consumer rights : DCO issues rules food businesses must follow

Orders strict action against violators.


Our Correspondent May 23, 2016
Orders strict action against violators. PHOTO: PUNJAB FOOD AUTHORITY FACEBOOK

BAHALWALPUR: The Bahawalpur DCO issued a directions journal for food manufactureers on Monday saying strict action will be taken against those caught selling people substandard food. He said food outlets and factories would be sealed in cases of severe violation of rules and regulations on food safety and standards.

DCO Ehtisham Anwar ordered a crackdown against businesses involved in preparing and selling substandard and adulterated food products. He directed assistant commissioners and Health Department officials in various tehsils to hold frequent inspections at hotels, bakeries, food product factories.

He said it was mandatory for anyone preparing food to sell to obtain a licence from the Health Department. Rules and regulations regarding preparation of food and their storage were to be followed to the tee, he said.

According to the directions journal, storage spaces must be wide, clean and airy. Places where food is prepared must have proper arrangements for discarding excessive and unnecessary items according to the health code. The walls, doors and ceiling of such spaces must be cleaned regularly. Only filtered water may be used in the preparation of food items and the water must be tested at a government laboratory every six months.  Workers diagnosed with contagious and terminal illnesses should not enter the kitchens. Workers preparing the food are required to wear designated clothes, preferably a uniform, kitchen caps and gloves. The journal says that smoking is strictly prohibited in kitchens.

According to the rules and regulations, washrooms cannot open into the food production space. Washroom facilities for workers are mandatory. They must have soap and water. The rules also say that cooks cannot recycle oil too many times.

According to the directions journal, if oil turns rancid or the colour of oil or ghee used to deep-fry food turns cloudy and dark, it must be discarded in an appropriate manner.

Good quality food grade packing material must be used to serve the food in.

The rules say that good quality ketchup and other condiments must be ensured. Cooked products should have a manufacture and expiry dates printed on the packing along with the weight, product code and ingredients.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2016.

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