Crackdown: PFA seals six food outlets

LAHORE:

The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Saturday took action against six food manufacturing units and outlets over poor hygiene.

PFA’s Allama Iqbal Town team sealed a chocolate production unit in Mansoora for using expired ingredients. The unit did not have any insect management system. The equipment there was also found to be dirty.

The Gulberg Town team fined the canteen management of American Lycetuff School, Ghari Shahu, for selling starch-based ketchup, unhygienic conditions and uncovered dustbins.

The Gulberg Town team also fined Boulevard Bar and Grill, Grumangat Road, for having open drains, broken pipes and a dirty washing area. The authority also issued a final warning to Mediterranean Food Company (Cosa Nostra) for having dirty and broken washing area.

PFA Ravi Town officials sealed Majid Chakki in Badami Bagh after workers were caught mixing straw in chili pepper powder. Two of them were arrested.

The Data Ganj Buksh Town team sealed the canteen at Mian Munshi Hospital for using sub-standard ketchup and because utensils were being washed in washrooms.

The PFA officers sealed Aslam Bakery Production Unit in Malipura due to unhygienic conditions, a dirty washing area, broken eggs and unlabeled food items. Abid Bakery Production unit was sealed for similar violations.

A PFA special team raided two illegal slaughterhouses in Ghoray Shah. Six people were arrested. A fake Lahore Meat Processing Company seal was also seized from the suspects.

Separately, a PFA spokesman said that laboratory reports of meat seized from city railway station had been received. “According to the reports of two different laboratories, the meat had been obtained from a cow or a buffalo. It was found to be unhygienic and unfit for human consumption,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 6^th, 2015.