PFA seals three food units, imposes Rs350,000 fines

LAHORE, Jun 08 (APP): Enforcement teams of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA), on the directions of Director General Punjab Food Authority Syed Musa Raza, carried out operations in various areas of Lahore as part of an ongoing campaign against food law violators.

During the operations, six food units and cold storage facilities were inspected, three units were sealed and fines worth Rs350,000 were imposed on three food businesses for serious violations of food safety regulations.

PFA’s food safety teams discarded 100 litres of substandard and repeatedly used cooking oil along with other food items. The teams sealed a poultry egg processing unit, a renowned water filtration plant and a general store. The egg processing unit was sealed for failing to comply with previously issued instructions and was also heavily fined. Inspectors observed poor sanitation arrangements, a heavy presence of rodents and insects and inadequate facilities for cleaning and washing eggs before processing.

DG PFA Syed Musa Raza said that inspection teams further found open drains, rusted machinery and unhygienic floors at the unit in violation of food safety regulations. The water filtration plant was sealed after its water sample failed laboratory analysis, indicating non-compliance with prescribed quality standards.

He said that PFA is actively working to ensure the provision of safe and quality food while continuing its crackdown against the adulteration mafia. He said that compliance with food safety laws is mandatory for all food businesses operating in Punjab.

He further said that individuals and businesses endangering public health deserve no leniency and strict legal action will continue against all violators of food safety regulations.