LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) on Sunday declared 103 editable oil and banaspati ghee brands unfit for human health.

The authority has stopped the production and distribution of the brands until the companies meet the food standards. The PFA has also got removed 68,120kg ghee and oil of the failed brands from the market.

The provincial food regulatory body has released the results of edible oil and fats sampling campaign 2019. Food safety teams collected 317 samples of cooking oil and ghee for laboratory analysis from open market in the presence of company’s representatives by following blind-sampling method throughout the province.

The brands which do not to meet safety parameters and quality parameters included Geo Banaspati, Kisan Banaspati Ghee, Potohar Cooking Oil, Sitara Cooking Oil, Qile Khyber Banaspati, Kisan Super Cooking Oil, Multan Banaspati, Commander Cooking Oil, Shafi Vegetable Ghee, Barra Khyber Banaspati Ghee, Misaal Banaspati, Fatima Cooking Oil, Darra Khyber Banaspati, Foody Sunflower Cooking Oil, Swera Cooking Oil, Seasons Banaspati, Punjab Cooking Oil, Seasons Cooking Oil, Punjab Banaspati, Dawat Cooking Oil, Master Palm Olein Oil, Sundrop Cooking Oil, Care Banaspati Ghee, Care Cooking Oil, Bakeman FRYO Frying Oil, Mehboob Cooking Oil, Chandi Sona Banaspati, Asia Banaspati, Tahafuz Banaspati, Chand Banaspati (VTF), Mumta Banaspati (VTF), Hoor Cooking Oil, Jashan Banaspati, Minha Banaspati, Naqash Banaspati, Geo Banaspati, Geo Kohinoor Banaspati, Khushboo Banaspati, Naqash Banaspati, Watan Cooking Oil, Dalda Fortified Sunflower Cooking Oil, Sufi Sunflower Cooking Oil, Momin Cooking Oil, Momin Sunflower Cooking Oil, Barkat Banaspati, Areej Premium Cooking Oil, Sadiq Cooking Oil, Dalda Fortified Sunflower Cooking Oil, Eva Premium Quality VTF Banaspati, Malta Banaspati, Soya Supreem Banaspati, Barkat Cooking Oil, Hafeez Banaspati, Fawad Banaspati, Maan Banaspati, Enaam Banaspati, Aghaz Banaspati, Hayat Palm Olein, Tawanai Palm Olein, Gul Banaspati, Mujahid Cooking Oil, Mujahid Soyabean Cooking Oil, Fatima Palm Olein Oil, Zaitoon Refined Palm Olein Oil, Mumtaz Cooking Oil, Madni Cooking Oil, Ok Cooking Oil, Maha Banaspati, Rohi Banaspati, Multan Canola Cooking Oil, Roho Canola Cooking Oil, Ittehad Canola Cooking Oil, Asia Pure Cooking Oil, Asia Pure Canola Oil, Maaz Supreme Banaspati Ghee, Shahbaz Cooking Oil, Shama Banaspati, Moulvi Cooking Oil, Andaaz Banaspati, Qadir Banaspati, Hafeez Cooking Oil, Ganj Shakr Cooking Oil, Shafi Cooking Oil, Tayyab Cooking Oil, Rahat Cooking Oil, Rahat Banaspati, SB Gold Canola Oil, Sb Gold Cooking Oil, Sidra Cooking Oil, Fatima Cooking Oil, Tahafuz Banaspati, Maaz Supreme Pakwan Oil, Fauji Koh-e-Noor Banaspati, Shehroz Banaspati, Khushi Cooking Medium, Aghaaz Banaspati, Master Chef Cooking Oil, ACP Fold Banaspati, Ittehad Palm Olein Cooking Oil, Taqwa Cooking Oil and Khalis Cooking Oil.

PFA Director General Muhammad Usman said the purpose of sample collection drive was to confirm the availability of requisite micronutrients in it and check the quality and standards.

He said that 56 samples have failed on quality parameters and 47 on safety parameters in the analytical laboratory test report, while 211 brands found up to the mark and three other brands failed on the incorrect label.

Mr Usman said that the authority would not compromise on the quality of food and standards and the production of failed brands would remain suspended till further orders.

He said that they would again collect samples of different brands for laboratory test.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2019