RAWALPINDI: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Thursday sealed six factories and two gowdowns during a crackdown against adulteration in different parts of the city.

The authority said raids were conducted in Rawat Industrial Area Ganjmandi, Satellite Town and Commercial Market.

As many as 41,905 kilogrammes substandard food items, 17,728 packets of gutka and 5,442 litres spurious vegetable oil extracted from animal fat were confiscated.

The confiscated materials also included 17,765 kg desi ghee, 6,860 kg red chilli powder and 480 kg red chilli pepper. The enforcement teams recovered 17,728 packets of gutka, 16,800 kg fried onions and 5,442 kg oil.

PFA Director General Mohammad Usman said Rawat Oil and Ghee Factory was sealed for using prohibited ingredients in the preparation of ghee and oil.

The raiding teams also sealed Raja Shahid and Company and Chaudhry Shoaib unit for producing substandard spices. The PFA also sealed Zauq Classic Production for supplying rotten fried onions.

Furthermore, Majeed and Sons Warehouse and Ahmad Ali Traders were raided and the teams sealed both the premises after recovering 17,728 packets of gutka. The sale of gutka is prohibited in Punjab.

The PFA closed down a branch of renowned fast-food chain for improper cleanliness arrangements.

Meanwhile, a food safety team sealed Sheikh Poultry Protein Processing and Production for not maintaining proper records. Six tons of oil was also recovered from the unit during a raid.

The PFA said field operations would continue to make the province free from adulterated food.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2019