PFA seals three fish points

Authority DG visits 230 fish points during a daylong operation, penalises 53

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) sealed three fish points and penalised 53 outlets with hefty fines over violation of provincial food regulations of the authority. The action was taken against fish points while carrying out an inspection operation in the province.

PFA Director General Irfan Memon said that the authority had visited 230 fish points during a daylong operation, including 81 in Lahore, 83 in Rawalpindi, 39 in Multan and 27 fish points in Muzaffargarh. Warning notices were issued to 174 points over minor violations while licenses of nine fish outlets were suspended. The director general said the reasons behind sealing the fish points were not following the previous instructions of the authority, usage of rancid oil and stinky environment.

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Memon added that the provincial food watchdog has closed down Ice and Spice Fish Point in Rawalpindi, My Food Point in Attock and Sufi Jee Fish Point in Gujarat. Meanwhile, a heavy amount of marinated fish with toxic chemicals was stored in non-food graded blue drums. Furthermore, he said that the reuse of low graded cooking oil in the preparation of food is a serious crime.

“PFA will continue its operation until healthy and safe food is provided to the masses,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 24^th, 2019.