PFA warns fruit markets, farmers and cold storage owners to abandon the use of calcium carbide, other hazardous chemicals for ripening of fruits

Punjab Food Authority

LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has warned fruit vendors, farmers and cold storage owners to abandon the use of calcium carbide and other hazardous chemicals for ripening and increasing the shelf life of fruits. Otherwise, strict action would be taken against violators as per law.

In this regard, Director General PFA Noor ul Amin Mengal said that fruit vendors, farmers and cold storage owners can use only healthy food grade chemicals for this purpose. He said that substandard and chemically treated fruits with calcium carbide will be discarded on the spot because acetylene gas produce in this whole process which makes a cause of several diseases like cancer, mental disorder, memory weakness, lack of sleep and intestinal diseases.

Mengal further said PFA has been trained food handlers on cold storage premises about the use of safe chemicals for fruits. He said that PFA will ensure the practice of ethylene gas for ripening of fruits because it is suitable and not effects on consumer health while this practice is mostly observed in modern courtiers. He further said that standards of chemicals and insecticides applied on fruits and vegetables are also being rationalized.

DG has appealed citizens should use fruits two to three days later after purchasing date while keeping in mind all the safety instructions before buying any essential commodities. He further said that people should wash fruits under water just before you are ready to eat.

Moreover, the PFA has launched a massive drive against substandard and fake beverage companies, distributors, and food business operators in order to ensure the healthy food in Punjab. The teams have shutter down 11 food businesses and imposed heavy fine tickets of Rs2211600 (2.2116 M) on more than 53 food premises. PFA has also issued warning notices to more than 350 food points over minor violation of food standards.

The teams have sealed 4 food points in Rawalpindi, 3 in Sargodha and 2 each in Gujranwala and Lahore diving during a daylong activity. Food safety teams have also registered a FIRs against two FBOs in Rawalpindi and Lahore. PFA has also confiscated 10010 banned Chinese salt, 1152 packs of snack (papar), 2163 litres juice, 3024 sachets of gutka, 630kg pulp of expiry Phalsa (Grewia Asiatica), more than 1,000 litres carbonated drinks, sweets and other products during operation.

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