Food quality: PFA crackdown continues across City

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) continued its crackdown on sale of adulterated and substandard milk products across the City on Thursday.

The PFA inspection teams in Gulberg sealed Pakpatan Milk Shop on Peco Road and Ghaus Azam Dastgeer Milk Shop, Gujjar Milk Shop and Mashallah Milk Shop in Kot Lakhpat area for operating businesses in unhygienic conditions and without a food license. The officials also collected samples from these outlets and sent them to a laboratory for analysis.

Teams in Allama Iqbal Town sealed Ahmad Milk Shop for selling substandard milk. The PFA also fined Bismillah Milk Shop in Marghzar Colony over poor cleanliness. The shop owner was directed to improve sanitation conditions to avoid future action. The PFA teams in Samanabad Town sealed Shakeel Catering in Kamran Block area over a foul smell and a dirty kitchen. The caterer did not have receipts for spices being used in his food products.

Student Bakers and Fast Food at the Punjab University was sealed for using expired cooking oil. The food outlet also did not have soap for workers. Food items were stored in dirty freezers, PFA officials said.

The authority’s Ravi Town teams sealed Bashir Bakery in Shahdara for selling unlabelled food items. Bakery workers were unaware about hygiene and food regulations. The PFA officials also collected samples of various food items for laboratory examination.

Aziz Bhatti and Wagha Towns food safety officers sealed Ghaus Milk Shop at Rajba Road and Irfan Milk Shop over poor cleanliness. The shops had stored milk in used chemical barrels. They also did not have food safety license. Qasim Store in Bilal Ganj Bazaar was also sealed for not obtaining a food license. Nishtar Town food safety officials also sealed Alkhair Milk Shop and Meezan Milk Shop in Nishtar Colony for similar reasons.

The authority fined Baba Gee Purani Anarkali Walay for selling uncovered food products and poor cleanliness. Pure and Safe Water Filtration Plant was also sealed for selling contaminated water.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2016.