PFA starts raids on school canteens

Says all educational institutions have been warned in advance not to sell cold drinks

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has launched its crackdown on educational institutes in different cities to stop the sale of carbonated, cola and energy drinks to students.

The aim is to reduce the harmful effects of these soft drinks on the youth. The provincial food watchdog, after detailed consultation with nutritional and health experts, recently formulated the Punjab Educational Institutions Food Standard Regulations 2017.



The law subsequently barred the sale of such drinks at educational institutions across Punjab. The authority launched an inspection drive in big cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala and Faisalabad to ensure the strict implementation of these regulations.

PFA officials, on Thursday, inspected over 316 canteens in different schools. The authority’s food safety experts carried out inspections at 131 schools in Lahore. PFA officials did not find cold drinks in 91 schools and the rest were issued warning notices for not complying with the authority’s regulation.

PFA food safety officers also checked 54 schools in Multan and issued warning notices to 16 schools for selling cold drinks to students. Similarly in Rawalpindi, 49 educational institutions were inspected of which 14 were found guilty.



In Gujranwala, 44 schools were checked and 13 were warned, while in Faisalabad, 38 were inspected and seven were issued notices.

PFA Additional Director General Rafia Haider said it was heartening to see that most educational institutions complied with the food authority’s orders by removing cold drinks from their canteens. She confirmed the authority had issued notices to some schools that flouted the new regulations imposed in the province from August 14 onwards.

Haider underlined that in the first phase, PFA was issuing warning notices. “However, if these schools do not stop the sale of cold drinks, their canteens will be sealed.” She disclosed that most schools had promised that some left over stocks and these would be removed immediately.



Earlier, PFA Director General Noorul Amin Mengal visited various public and private educational institutions of Wahdat Road, Model Town, Johar Town and other areas. He gave a reward of Rs10,000 to two schools for not keeping soft drinks in their canteens.

Mengal warned strict action would be taken against violators. He said heads and owners of government and private educational institutes were being informed about the ban and their cooperation was the key to making the drive a success. He requested parents not to allow their children to consume carbonated and energy drinks.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2017.