Food quality: Restaurant sealed over poor hygiene

PFA teams seal 19 businesses during raids on Sunday

LAHORE: A Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Gulberg Town team on Sunday sealed Capri restaurant near Liberty Market over poor hygiene conditions.

In a statement released after the raid, the PFA said its team, headed by PFA operations director, found cockroaches and houseflies at the restaurant’s kitchen. It said utensils used for cooking were also unclean.

The PFA team also sealed Ghulam Mustafa Naan Shop and Madina Milk Shop for their failure to show medical certificates of their workers. The team said it discovered poor sanitation at both premises. It said kitchen walls were found covered with spider webs and there was no soap at the premises for washing hands or dishes.

In Data Ganj Buksh Town, a PFA team sealed Din Tikka and Family Restaurant on McLeod Road for poor hygiene and operations without a licence. The team found rotten vegetables in the kitchen. It also spotted insects near the cooking area. It said some of the workers were found wearing jewellery during work hours.

The team also sealed Pakeeza restaurant on finding stale meat in a freezer. The team also found cockroaches in the freezers. It said the washing area of the restaurant was also unclean.

In Samanabad Town, a PFA team sealed Baba Jhoora Milk Shop over poor hygiene.

Ali Hajvery Naan Shop in Ravi Town was sealed over the management’s failure to produce medical certificates for workers and for poor hygiene. Other businesses sealed in the town were Hakim Pan Shop, Usman General Store, Abdul Khaliq General Store, Shahzad Pan Shop and Hashmi Pan Shop.

In Shalimar Town, a PFA team sealed Imran Makhana Factory and Muhammad Ali and Abuzar Dry Fruit Shop for operating without a licence. Jamshed Hotel and Noshahi Qadri Milk Shop were sealed in Aziz Bhatti Town over similar reasons. The PFA team also found poor hygiene at the premises.

In Wagha Town, a PFA team sealed Warsi Hotel and Rafiq Hotel over poor hygiene and operating without a licence. Shahi Lasani Restaurant in Johar Town G-Block Market and Coaster Bakers and Sweets were fined over poor hygiene. Food products displayed at the bakery did not carry expiry dates. Guddu Chanay Wala was fined because a cook was caught smoking at work. A fine was also imposed on Butt Naan Shop over poor sanitation.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 5^th, 2015.