PFA sealed 41 meat shops for selling sick, emaciated chicken , beef and mutton

Lahore : The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has sealed 41 meat points for selling sick, emaciated and unhygienic chicken meat, beef and mutton to customers by taking stern action against them under PFA mission in order to make “Healthy Punjab” on Friday.

Following the PFA Director General Noor ul Amin direction’s, PFA Meat Safety Teams visited on hundreds of shops and ensure the quality of meat which was put on display for selling. As many as 19 meat shops sealed among 41 food businesses in Punjab.

The teams have sealed 11 in North and 9 is South Punjab whereas 47 and 30 shops fined respectively. Further, PFA inspected overall 814 meat points, imposed fine on 121 and issued 216 warning notices during a daylong activity.

DG Noor ul Amin Mengal said that teams have discarded 416kg substandard chicken, meat and beef. He said that special meat safety teams have been constituted which is ensuring the quality of meat in Punjab added that veterinary specialties recruited in MST instead of food sciences specialists for getting a better result. He further said that Punjab government is utilizing all available resources and taking a step towards completing the Healthy Punjab Mission and so far thousands of mounds substandard and adulterated food has been discarded.

Moreover, PFA is going to start a special training session for butchers and meat industry in connection to aware them about the healthy animal, quality meat, hygiene principles and PFA standards. Operational teams are taking action for the elimination of substandard food products as per law and set strategy of PFA, he mentioned.

In a separate drive against substandard food premises under ‘general action’ was also launched in Punjab. Overall 10 food businesses sealed in which 5 in Gujranwala, 3 in Sargodha and one each in Sahiwal and Rawalpindi. Purpose of the daylong drive was to ensure the availability and supply of safe and hygienic food and meat in Punjab.

Also, Rs 309000 fine imposed was on 57 food points for failing to meet the food standards. PFA’s watchdogs have issued fine tickets of R172000 on 31 shops in Gujranwala, Rs 63500 fine on 12 in Rawalpindi, Rs 22500 fine on 10 eateries in Sargodha, and Rs 44000 fine on 4 businesses in Sahiwal and 7000 fine in Multan. A huge quantity of substandard products was discarded including 1500 rotten eggs, more than 2500 litres beverages, 100kg white flour (Maida), chinese salt and many other products.