Various food points penalized for hygiene violations

MULTAN, Jun 01 (APP):The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) intensified operation against food safety violations across Multan division, imposing heavy fines on several food businesses and disposing of 35 kilograms of substandard food during inspections.

According to official sources, PFA food safety teams inspected multiple food outlets, restaurants, bakeries, beverage units, catering facilities and hotels in Multan and surrounding areas.

A sweets and bakery outlet in Sameeja Abad was fined Rs20,000 for failing to use clean water, maintaining inadequate pest control arrangements and using substandard ingredients. A hotel on Budhla road was penalized Rs12,000 for poor sanitation and the use of uncovered spices.

Similarly, a restaurant near Nawan Shehar chowk Abdali road was fined Rs25,000 after inspectors found stagnant contaminated water in its washing area and a lack of clean water supply. Another food point at Nag Shah Chowk received a Rs35,000 fine for storing expired shawarma bread and stale food in freezers.

In Mohsin Town, a soda water plant was fined Rs20,000 for using artificial sweeteners in beverages and failing to properly label products. A catering unit near Qasim Fort Metro Station was penalized Rs35,000 after inspectors detected insects in the processing area and blood residues in meat.

The authority also imposed cumulative fines of Rs45,000 on two hotels located in Gulgasht and Khan Village road for improper storage of vegetables and the presence of expired raw materials. Meanwhile, a hotel on Jahanian road and a wholesale food point in Colony No. 3 were collectively fined Rs22,000 for using contaminated water in food processing, storing junk material alongside food ingredients and mixing prohibited and substandard substances in food products.

In a separate action, an ice factory at Adda Gaggu Mandi was fined Rs25,000 after inspectors found insects in ice blocks and unhygienic conditions in the production area.