MUZAFFARGARH: Up to 12 people were arrested for selling fake and poisonous food items on Sunday in Multan. The divisional administration and Punjab Food Authority cracked down on the adulteration and counterfeiting mafia. During the raid, thousands of litres of counterfeit beverages, adulterated red chilli and counterfeit packing material were seized. Three cases of adulteration and fraud were registered and 12 persons were arrested on the spot.

During an operation in grain markets of south Punjab, 5,751 litres of counterfeit liquor were seized from a beverage plant while three cases were registered and 10 persons were arrested. An FIR was registered against the bottle store owners for forging labels and misbranding the bottles and one person was arrested. During the raid on a spice mill, 280 kg of adulterated red chillies were seized and two people were arrested. Open colour mixture was found in the chillies.

Punjab Food Authority Director-General Shoaib Jadoon said that counterfeit and adulterated drinks were being packaged and supplied to Multan city and other districts. Food adulteration and counterfeiting are enemies of public health. Commissioner Multan Division Engineer Amir Khattak said that such mafias would be nabbed.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2022