PFA seals 31 ice factories over unhygienic conditions

Lahore : The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) shut 31 ice factories and served 156 notices for improvement during conducted an operation on substandard ice factories throughout the province, on Monday.

PFA Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman said that action was taken against ice plants for not installing Reverse Osmosis (RO) system, failing to maintain the hygienic working environment, using rusty ice blocks and non-compliance with previous instructions of the authority.

In a daylong activity, as many as 287 ice factories were checked by food safety teams of the PFA. According to details, PFA’s watchdogs visited 103 ice plants and sealed 10 premises in Lahore Region. Whereas, the authority issued final warning notices on 55 ice processing units for using non-food grade vehicles for transport purpose.

Moreover, PFA inspected 100 factories in Rawalpindi Region and sealed 10 ice plants along with served notices on 51 ice plants. Besides, PFA teams closed down 11 ice factories in Multan and Raheem Yar Khan Districts whereas 84 sites were checked and issued warning notices to 50 food business operators.

Usman further said that polluted water along with rusty ice blocks were being used in the preparation of ice. He added that it is compulsory for ice factories to install RO plant, use of food-grade vessels and to maintain the hygiene working environment.

The ice not only used in houses but it used is high at beverages shops, he said and added that the use of substandard quality ice is a big source of health diseases for its consumers. He said that PFA’s watchdogs directed factories for keeping premises neat and clean along with to install ensure RO filter system in factories, otherwise, strict action would be taken against them who failed to bring reforms.