LAHORE: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has launched a grand operation against manufactures of fake and adulterated milk across the province.

During the massive operation, the authority tested 28,200 litres of milk and disposed of 14,500 litre for having contamination and harmful chemicals.

According to a handout, the PFA operation at Pindi Bhattian was led by Director General Irfan Memon,

The dairy safety teams examined the milk collection chillers and mill supply vehicles to inspect the quality of milk. Rusty milk chillers and vehicles were being used to supply tainted milk from farmhouses and production units to local shops.

Mr Memon said the PFA was vigilantly monitoring the food industry, including milk industry, at all level and it would not tolerate milk adulteration at any cost.

On the other hand, the authority sealed 22 food points and imposed more than Rs800,000 fine on dozens of food business operators during its routine inspection operation across Punjab.

Also seals 22 food points

According to details, the PFA sealed Gulzar Spices unit in Khanawal for selling adulterated spices. Two other general stores were shut down for selling expired food items and poor storage system. Al-Khair Poultry Service & Supplier was sealed in Multan for selling unhygienic meat of emaciated chicken.

In Bahawalpur, the authority sealed a production unit of Rohi Bread over incomplete labelling, stinky environment and presence of insects.

In Faisalabad, the enforcement team raided Fri Chicks and sealed it for using dirty oil for frying purpose and the presence of insects. A team closed down Al-Masoom Atta Chaki at Barkat Chowk over junk material. The raiding team confiscated 50kg substandard salt.

In Chiniot, Ammanullah Khoya Unit was sealed for using vegetable ghee in the manufacturing of Khoya and worst condition of hygiene.

The PFA Gujranwala team raided American Bakers and sealed it finding expired eatables and for failing to produce a record. Two Paan shops were also sealed for selling gutka and poor cleanliness arrangements during raids. The teams confiscated over 300 packets of gutka. In another raid, the food safety team shut down Zamzama Restaurant owing to use of rancid oil and untraceable non-food grade colours.

The Hafizabad team sealed Akram Hotel and Haneef Juice Corner for not paying the license fee and failure to adopt food safety standards. The team also stopped the production of Haneef Juice Corner by serving an emergency prohibition order. In Sialkot, Nagra Mart was sealed for selling expired food.

A dairy safety team raided Allah Daad Khoya Unit in Sargodha and sealed it for producing adulterated Khoya with substandard ingredients.

The PFA Mianwali team sealed City School’s canteen for using styrofoam and presence of pests. The provincial food regulatory body has discarded a huge quantity of unwholesome food, including 2,460kg adulterated chickpea, 190 litres tainted milk, 23k gpulses, 20kg khoya and expired drinks.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2020