LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has raided a snacks factory on Sheikhupura Road and stopped its production over multiple violations besides discarding 15,336kg of unwholesome food.
The raiding team discarded 8,300kg Irani Cake, 700 litres of used oil, 500kg of substandard nimko, 350kg of substandard chocolate and 77kg of loose colours.
A PFA team under the supervision of PFA Director General Mudassar Riaz Malik, Additional Director Operations and Deputy Director Operations conducted the raid and successfully ruined the unholy ambitions of the adulteration mafia.
Mudassar Riaz said that the authority took action against the factory over the presence of huge expired food articles, an abundance of insects, stinky environment and the worst condition of hygiene. Apart from that, the food business operator (FBO) failed to present the record of product registration, approval of labelling and medical certificates of workers to the PFA team.
Moreover, FBO did not take proper preventative measures to control the pests. The authority also caught them red-handed producing products in the poor cleanliness environment.
He said that PFA had served two warning notices to FBO before this but administration of the unit did not take it seriously and ignored the authority instructions instead of complying with. He said that the used or waste cooking oil cannot be reused in the food items and for human consumption as per PFA regulations.
PFA DG further said that food authority would not tolerate the use of substandard ingredients in the preparation of any food. He directed food safety teams to accelerate and expand the circle of their ongoing activities against violators to ensure the provision of quality food.
He said the vigilance cell is being strengthened to eliminate those who secretly manufacture substandard food. The difference will be highlighted between those FBOs who follow the rules and those who violate them, he added.
Mudassar said that the food authority would not allow any FBO to violate the law and cases would also be registered against the adulteration mafia. He has vowed to make Punjab’s land narrow for the adulteration mafia.
