LAHORE, Jun 23 (APP):Enforcement teams of the Punjab Food Authority, on the directions of Director General Punjab Food Authority Syed Musa Raza, carried out an operation in Lakhodair, Lahore, against a unit manufacturing counterfeit soft drinks of various renowned brands. During the raid, one suspect was arrested red-handed and an FIR was lodged over food fraud activities. Food safety teams discarded 2,560 litres of prepared counterfeit soft drinks, 4,000 empty …
PFA lodges FIR, arrests suspect, confiscates machinery from fake soft drinks unit
LAHORE, Jun 23 (APP):Enforcement teams of the Punjab Food Authority, on the directions of Director General Punjab Food Authority Syed Musa Raza, carried out an operation in Lakhodair, Lahore, against a unit manufacturing counterfeit soft drinks of various renowned brands. During the raid, one suspect was arrested red-handed and an FIR was lodged over food fraud activities.
Food safety teams discarded 2,560 litres of prepared counterfeit soft drinks, 4,000 empty bottles, more than 140kg of bottle caps, flavours and chemicals. Teams also confiscated two filling machines, three gas cylinders, a carbonation machine, a pressure pump and other machinery used in the illegal production process. Unit was preparing fake soft drinks in 1.5-litre, 1-litre and 500ml bottles for market distribution.
DG PFA Syed Musa Raza said that inspection teams found that the counterfeit beverages were being manufactured using unfiltered tap water, artificial colours, flavours and prohibited ingredients. Poor sanitation arrangements were observed, while the prepared solution was being stored uncovered in prohibited blue drums, posing a serious risk to public health.
He said that illegal operation was being run secretly from a residential area and was traced after extensive surveillance by the vigilance team. He said that PFA will continue taking strict action against those involved in fraudulent food businesses.
He further stated that every tactic employed by food fraudsters will be defeated and PFA is committed to eliminating food adulteration and counterfeit food products from Punjab.
