Eateries run into trouble as PFA exposes health risks
Sales have gone down 50% since the start of inspection campaign.
Examined: 5,500 is the approximate number of food outlets the PFA has inspected in the on-going campaign. PHOTO: COURTESY PFA
LAHORE:
The eateries of Punjab’s capital, Lahore, are losing their business rapidly following a series of raids conducted by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) to examine hygienic conditions and stocks of meat and other goods to ensure the quality of food being served to the consumers.
The food authority is inspecting outlets in all areas of the city including posh localities as well as places inhabited by middle and low-income classes. Besides the fast food outlets, confectioneries, roadside food stalls called Dhabas and loose milk supply are also being monitored by inspection teams of the authority.
The business of restaurants, especially those found offering expired sauces and substandard meat and having poor storage and unhygienic conditions, has gone down up to 50%, they claim. These mostly include restaurants of the posh localities.
“Each outlet that has been fined has recorded a sharp drop in sales,” said Ahmad Shafique, General Secretary of the Restaurant Owners Association, a newly formed body representing over 200 outlets, all from the posh areas.
“The way PFA is highlighting the campaign on social media is really hurting restaurant incomes as their customers are more connected socially and are more curious about health and hygiene.”
The campaign is drawing immense appreciation from food-loving people, who are now hesitant to eat at such outlets. The business of eateries is considered among the best in terms of profit as owners spend very little to meet quality and hygiene standards.
Restaurant owners, however, claim that the conditions are not as bad as portrayed and in some cases the food authority’s claims are false and in many instances the regulator has exceeded limits.
“The inspection teams do not comprise food scientists and they are penalising us no matter what they find in the restaurants, they are clearly exceeding the limits and are hurting those restaurants that cater to only 5% of the population,” Shafique said.
However, the PFA insists it is not against the business and just wants to improve things. It is seeking to check the quality of food and hygienic conditions of all restaurants for which the citizens are paying extra.
“You don’t need food scientists to check expired items and poor storage and hygienic conditions, anyone can notice the rotting goods,” said PFA Director Operations Ayesha Mumtaz while talking to The Express Tribune.
“The sample of goods taken is sent to the laboratory and action is taken against such restaurants accordingly.”
Mumtaz said they were not sealing every restaurant and since she joined the regulator they had inspected about 5,500 outlets and sealed around 250. Apart from this, improvement notices have been served on around 2,500 restaurants.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2015.
The eateries of Punjab’s capital, Lahore, are losing their business rapidly following a series of raids conducted by the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) to examine hygienic conditions and stocks of meat and other goods to ensure the quality of food being served to the consumers.
The food authority is inspecting outlets in all areas of the city including posh localities as well as places inhabited by middle and low-income classes. Besides the fast food outlets, confectioneries, roadside food stalls called Dhabas and loose milk supply are also being monitored by inspection teams of the authority.
The business of restaurants, especially those found offering expired sauces and substandard meat and having poor storage and unhygienic conditions, has gone down up to 50%, they claim. These mostly include restaurants of the posh localities.
“Each outlet that has been fined has recorded a sharp drop in sales,” said Ahmad Shafique, General Secretary of the Restaurant Owners Association, a newly formed body representing over 200 outlets, all from the posh areas.
“The way PFA is highlighting the campaign on social media is really hurting restaurant incomes as their customers are more connected socially and are more curious about health and hygiene.”
The campaign is drawing immense appreciation from food-loving people, who are now hesitant to eat at such outlets. The business of eateries is considered among the best in terms of profit as owners spend very little to meet quality and hygiene standards.
Restaurant owners, however, claim that the conditions are not as bad as portrayed and in some cases the food authority’s claims are false and in many instances the regulator has exceeded limits.
“The inspection teams do not comprise food scientists and they are penalising us no matter what they find in the restaurants, they are clearly exceeding the limits and are hurting those restaurants that cater to only 5% of the population,” Shafique said.
However, the PFA insists it is not against the business and just wants to improve things. It is seeking to check the quality of food and hygienic conditions of all restaurants for which the citizens are paying extra.
“You don’t need food scientists to check expired items and poor storage and hygienic conditions, anyone can notice the rotting goods,” said PFA Director Operations Ayesha Mumtaz while talking to The Express Tribune.
“The sample of goods taken is sent to the laboratory and action is taken against such restaurants accordingly.”
Mumtaz said they were not sealing every restaurant and since she joined the regulator they had inspected about 5,500 outlets and sealed around 250. Apart from this, improvement notices have been served on around 2,500 restaurants.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2015.