PFA discards 9,000 cans of energy drinks

Heavy fines imposed on food outlets across Punjab

LAHORE: In a province-wide operation against energy drink companies, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has discarded 9,000 cans for violating labeling instructions.

The operation was launched against energy drinks manufacturing companies and importers on the directions of PFA Director General Noorul Amin Mengal.

The PFA Additional Director General (Operations) Rafia Haider said that the authority had warned manufacturing companies to label products prominently in Urdu language, but they did not take them seriously. She added caffeine level was found to be excessive and not to the standards of the PFA Punjab Pure Regulations 2017.



She said that caffeine level should be less than 200ppm, but it was found at more than 300ppm during tests.

Moreover, regular use of energy drinks becomes a cause of blood pressure, hypertension, obesity and many other diseases, she pointed out.

Haider appealed to citizens to give their children fresh juices, fruits, milk and other healthy food products.

She maintained the industry was bound to mention on their products that energy drinks are not suitable for pregnant women and children.

Separately, a massive crackdown was also launched under the supervision of food safety officers in Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2018.