Mystery shopper helps bust dead meat trade

Trader let off with fine as PFA destroys substandard stock

RAWALPINDI / ISLAMABAD:

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) said on Thursday that they had busted a group that was selling substandard meat, including dead and emaciated chicken, to shops as well as restaurants in the twin cities.

The authority also seized over 2,000 kg of dead chicken during the operation at the chicken market in the garrison city.

A senior officer of the PFA’s food safety team said that they had received confidential information regarding meat of dead and sick chickens being sold to wholesale shops from Rawalpindi’s chicken market at Bagh Sardaran.

Read 1.6 tonnes of rotten meat seized in joint operation

The officer said that to verify the information, they sent a mock customer to one of the identified shops said to be selling the substandard meat. The mystery shopper placed an order of 2,000 kg which was worth Rs1.3 million.

The trader brought the required chicken, which included a large number of dead and emaciated animals, said the officer.

Once the food safety team was able to confirm that the food was indeed substandard and from emaciated and dead chicken, the stand-by team already present in the market raided the shop. The trader and his employees were detained, they added.

The PFA official added that the more than 2000 kg of dead and sick chicken meat was dumped in Nullah Leh.

The spokesperson added that the meat of these dead chickens was to be sold to the citizens and posed a risk of spreading various diseases among those who consumer it. The spokesperson added that the chicken trader was fined Rs40,000 and issued a warning.

The operation against substandard meat sellers comes in the wake of complaints of poor-quality food being sold at eateries and tourist spots in the twin cities causing gastrointestinal problems ranging from food poisoning, stomach cramps, vomiting, etc.

Sajid Ali, a resident of G-9, said he was at a local park with his family where they purchased burgers and chickpea-based savoury snacks. He said that they were ‘visibly unhealthy and cooked in ubhygienic conditions’ and resulted in health complications for his family members.

Amna Ali, a resident of G-11, said that during a visit to the Pakistan Monument, she observed that the eateries were selling unclean, polluted, and adulterated food without any check from relevant authorities.

"The vendors are selling food at a premium while completely disregarding the regarding health and hygiene,” she remarked.

She appealed to the relevant authorities including the Capital Development Authority (CDA) and Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) to take strict actions against such vendors.Dr Ruby Rafique said that those visiting public places should avoid eating food at these eateries or tourist points in twin cities.

(With input from APP)

Published in The Express Tribune, August 25^th, 2023.