LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has discarded 2,615 kilogrammes chemically-contaminated mangoes in a crackdown on food business operators (FBOs). Food safety teams inspected 97 fruit markets of Punjab on Friday.

PFA Director General retired Captain Muhammad Usman said that PFA checked 30 markets in Lahore zone, 37 in Rawalpindi and 15 each market in Multan and Muzaffargarh zones. Food teams checked 1,044 vehicles which loaded with fruits and 1,418 stalls across Punjab. The teams also served warning notices for improvement to 388 FBOs during raids.

Mr Usman said that the use of CaC2 was strictly prohibited in Punjab to artificially ripen fruits. He said that around the globe for artificial ripening of fruits Ethylene was being used that diminished the risk of diseases. He said the PFA was taking all necessary steps to make successful the mission of thee Punjab government ‘Safe Food, Healthy Punjab’. The director general added the Punjab Food Authority was getting fruitful results by following the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar.

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2019