PFA continues raids against violators in Lahore

Food safety watchdog confiscates rotten ingredients and textile colours

LAHORE: To control the practice of adulteration and substandard operation, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) carried out various raids in Lahore and Faisalabad division on Thursday.

At least 11 food outlets were sealed in Faisalabad and five food businesses, including two food manufacturing units, a milk shop and two restaurants.



In Lahore, a PFA team carried out an operation in Shama Park and unearthed a counterfeit carbonated drink manufacturing factory and sealed it. The factory was sealed for producing soft drinks of prominent brands and over using chemicals, textile colours and artificial flavours. PFA officials confiscated 2,500 adulterated bottles, chemicals and other harmful products from the spot.

Additional Director General (Operations) Rafia Haider said PFA has closed down more than 100 counterfeit carbonated drink factories in the current year.

PFA also sealed a ketchup and mayonnaise factory on Multan Road for using starch, cosmetic colours and chemicals.

PFA sent samples of ketchup and mayonnaise for laboratory test and further action would be taken after the report. As many as 8,000 kilogrammes of ketchup was taken into custody during the raid.



Rafia Haider said a milk shop was sealed in Iqbal Town’s Neelum Block for selling adulterated milk. Two restaurants were shut down by the authority over bad hygiene conditions and non-compliance with the instructions of the PFA. Both restaurants were operations in Jory Pull. PFA’s officials penalised 69 shopkeepers and served warning notices on 642 outlets in both divisions over a minor violation during raids.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2018.