PFA seals 5 food units, lodges FIR against milk shop

LAHORE, Jun 30 (APP): Enforcement teams of the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) carried out operations in Shalimar Bagh, Gulberg, Raiwind Road, Baghbanpura and Atta Road and sealed five food units, got registered a case against a milk shop and imposed fine worth Rs 247,000 on 17 food businesses after inspecting a total of 22 food points.

Food safety teams discarded 700 litres of adulterated white solution prepared with vegetable ghee and prohibited ingredients for the production of fake milk, along with 524kg of expired food items and prohibited ingredients. A milk shop was sealed and an FIR was lodged after its milk sample failed laboratory analysis.

Teams also recovered and discarded substandard ghee and expired spices from a renowned traders’ shop.

PFA DG Syed Musa Raza said that teams found serious violations of food safety regulations, including non compliance with mandatory food safety SOPs and FIFO (First In, First Out) inventory management principle. Storage areas were infested with insects and dead cockroaches, while production areas had poor sanitation

arrangements and foul smelling conditions.

He said that teams further observed that finished food products lacked manufacturing and expiry dates. Mandatory employees’ medical certificates were unavailable, expired stock was stored alongside fresh products and food items were kept uncovered in violation of food safety regulations.

He said the PFA was ensuring strict implementation of food hygiene, quality standards, mandatory record keeping and food safety SOPs across the province. He further stated that any compromise on the quality of food products would not be tolerated under any circumstances.