Various food businesses penalized for hygiene violations in South Punjab

MULTAN, Oct 06 (APP):Punjab Food Authority (PFA) continued its crackdown against substandard and unsafe food in South Punjab, imposing heavy fines on multiple restaurants, food manufacturing units, spice mills, pizza outlets and other food businesses in Multan, Khanewal, Vehari and Lodhran.

The inspections were conducted on the directions of PFA Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmed to ensure compliance with food safety and hygiene standards.

In Multan, a sweets production unit near Central Jail on Ghousabad Street was fined Rs50,000 for using open food colours, prohibited chemicals and substandard ingredients. A sweets and bakery outlet on Makhdoom Rashid Road was fined Rs25,000 for keeping food uncovered, using untraceable ingredients and maintaining poor cleanliness in the washing area.

A local snacks unit on Gali No. 10, Nawabpur Road, was fined Rs25,000 for using rancid cooking oil, while three well-known restaurants in Model Town and Chungi No. 22 were each fined Rs25,000 for using expired burger buns and China salt, improper storage of raw materials and accumulation of contaminated water in freezers.

A spice grinding unit at Chungi No. 21 was fined Rs20,000 for poorly maintained machinery and unlabelled substandard ingredients. A pizza outlet on Khanewal Road, Qadirpur Raan, was fined Rs25,000 for improper food storage in freezers, poor machinery hygiene and an infestation of insects in the processing area.

In Khanewal, a bakery at 22-R, Kacha Khuh, was fined Rs20,000 for keeping expired food items and failing to install a filter for clean drinking water. A sweets and bakery outlet at Sardar Pur Chowk, Kabirwala, was fined Rs25,000 for selling expired ketchup and biscuits, while a supermarket at Block 16, Chowk Ahle Hadith, was fined Rs50,000 for keeping expired and prohibited ingredients.

In Vehari and Burewala, a grocery store at Fish Market, Burewala, was fined Rs30,000 after expired tea leaves were found. A snacks unit at 5-WB, Vehari, was fined Rs15,000 for poor sanitation and an infestation of insects.

Two restaurants, one in Faisal Town, Vehari, and another on Main Chichawatni Road, Burewala, were each fined Rs25,000 for using China salt and open spices, poor kitchen hygiene, hair found in a freezer and the presence of substandard meat.

The PFA teams also disposed of 30 litres of rancid oil and 50 kilograms of prohibited and expired food items during the inspections.