PFA seals drinks factory as drive continues

Authority continues raids across the province against substandard consumables


Our Correspondent May 24, 2018
PHOTO: FILE

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed an illegal beverage production unit and registered a case against the owner of the factory.

PFA food safety officials, under the supervision of PFA Additional Director General (Operations) Rafia Haider, conducted a raid, based on a tip-off, in the Gulshan Wahab Colony of Chongi Amarsadhu on Wednesday. PFA officials discarded around 7,000 counterfeit or substandard fizzy drink bottles, including 3,200 bottles of one and a half-litre and 3,800 half-liter bottles.

The authority also removed factory machinery, including gas cylinders, two filling machines, compressors, motors, drums and other equipment being used for producing substandard carbonated drinks.

Haider told media that the authority had also detained the owner of the factory and he was later handed over to the police after the registration of a case.

She highlighted that PFA teams remained vigilant in all parts of the province and were taking rigorous actions against violators of provincial food regulators.

During the inspection drive, the provincial food watchdog closed down five food businesses, of which four were sealed in the provincial capital alone. These food businesses maintained poor cleanliness. They were also involved in selling substandard and low quality food products.

PFA officials sealed three sweets shops for mislabeling food products and improper cleanliness arrangements.

These sweet shops were using substandard artificial flavours and ingredients in manufacturing of different food products in Badami Bagh area.

A team of the provincial food watchdog also conducted a raid in Lalpul area and sealed a samosa corner for using rancid oil when frying and inadequate cleanliness arrangements.

During Ramazan bazaar inspections, PFA officials discarded 814 kilograms of rotten and low-quality fruit and vegetables being sold by vendors.

Similarly, teams of the authority also inspected different food businesses in the 36 districts of Punjab and imposed heavy fine tickets of Rs246,000 on 38 outlets for the violation of provincial food laws.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2018.

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