PFA seals bakery’s production unit

LAHORE, Jun 05 (APP): The enforcement teams of Punjab Food Authority (PFA), led by the Additional Director Lahore, carried out a food safety audit of renowned food brands in Lahore. During the operation, a well-known bakery’s production unit located at Hamdard Chowk was sealed and penalized for serious violations of food safety regulations.

Food safety teams discarded 4,500kg of khoya, 840kg of cream, 50 litres of expired chemicals and over one maund of raw material. Inspection teams recovered fungus infested khoya from the unit and immediately destroyed it. They also found that the expiry date on drums of desi ghee had been tampered with and altered. Substandard raw materials were being used in the preparation of bakery products, posing a significant risk to consumer health.

DG PFA Syed Musa Raza said that the observed dirty water accumulated on broken floors in the production section, foul environmental conditions and poor sanitation arrangements. A large number of cockroaches were found inside the cheese cold storage area, indicating severe hygiene violations.

He said that whether it is a large food industry or a roadside eatery, obtaining a food licence, ensuring medical screening and training of food handlers, and complying with food safety laws are mandatory requirements. He said that strict action is being taken against industries and food businesses found violating food regulations.

He further said that food audits are being conducted to ensure compliance with food hygiene standards, product quality requirements, maintenance of mandatory records and implementation of food safety SOPs.  Punjab Food Authority is ensuring uniform enforcement of food laws across all food businesses, regardless of their size or market presence.