LAYYAH: As many as 392 food items samples out of 852 were declared unfit for consumption by the Food Testing Lab, Lahore, while result of 33 others is still awaited.

District Food Inspector (health department) Mohsin Hanif said this while briefing a meeting arranged by South Asia Partnership (SAP), non-governmental organisation and Awaz District Forum here on Monday.

Mr Hanif said under the Pure Food Ordinance, 2015, which replaced the Pure Food Act, 1960, the amount of fine for violators had been raised Rs20,000 to Rs2 million, which was previously only Rs200 to Rs500.

Under the ordinance, Provincial Food Authority has been established and an anti-adulteration campaign is launched in the district. He said during the campaign, 852 samples of food items were collected and sent to the FTL that declared 357 of these fit for consumption, while 392 samples were declared unfit, and result of 33 was yet to be announced.

He said as many as 19 FIRs were lodged by the health department against violators. Additional district collector also lodged 16 FIR’s unde the ordinace. So far 357 cases had been sent to courts, added Mr Mohsin. He said Rs396,400 fine was imposed on violators by the assistant commissioners while Rs15,000 fine by the courts.

Mohsin said kitchens of many hotels and restaurants, along with backers and sweets shop’s manufacturing units were also sealed over unhygienic conditions.

He said the workers of these units and outlets were also medically examined and some of them were diagnosed with serious diseases like hepatitis, who were laid off by their owners.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2015