PFA prepares to tighten noose around food adulterators

LAHORE: In an attempt to further tighten the noose around food adulterators, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has decided to induct more vigilance officers to increase its workforce and area of operation.

PFA Director General Noorul Amin Mengal said on Wednesday that the performance of the PFA Vigilance Cell was remarkable and secret information gathered by vigilance officers has helped the authority to conduct several successful raids. The provincial food watchdog has already inducted five more vigilance officers and 10 assistant vigilance officers who would gather secret information related to illegal market of substandard and adulterated food products.



Mengal highlighted that the authority had successfully seized huge quantities of substandard and adulterated food items even in far- flung and remote areas.



“Considering the performance of Vigilance Cell and success rate, the PFA has decided to further strengthen the vigilance network,” he said.

He said the authority has also decided to induct more vigilance officers in all 36 districts of the Punjab as the PFA was committed to curbing the menace of adulterated food.



Meanwhile, PFA food safety officers continued their raids at food outlets and restaurants in the city. The PFA officials discarded around eight mound of food products prepared in unhygienic environment
and sealed production facility of the Kernal Food Products.

PFA DG along with his food safety officer raided on the food production facility at Dosako Chowk on Sheikhupura Road. He said the unit had very poor cleanliness and substandard ingredients and dyes were being used in food preparations.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2017.