Food safety teams discard 71,000 rotten eggs

Lahore : The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) carried out raids against food business operators and shut down four food businesses across the city here on Friday. The purpose of the action was to curb the sale and purchase of unhygienic and substandard food.

Enforcement teams of PFA shut down snacks factory, cold store, a meat shop and re-sealed an illegal slaughterhouse. PFA’s watchdogs discarded thousands of kilograms unwholesome food including 71,000 rotten eggs and 2,100 kg substandard meat of emaciated animals.

PFA Director General retired Captain Muhammad Usman said that PFA has re-sealed un illegal slaughterhouse for de-sealing the premise without getting permission from the competent authority and not following the legal procedure. Hazardous meat was being prepared after slaughtering sick and emaciated animals there, he said and adding that the animals were usually slaughtered late at night. He further said that the authority detained two accused from the spot and handed them over to police for further legal proceeding. A case also registered on account of de-sealing the site.

In another raid, meat safety team raided Al-Khair Meat Shop, located at Mozang, and sealed it for selling poor quality meat. Teams also discovered the hygiene issues, richness of creepy-crawlies and heap of animal filth. He added that the authority confiscated 2,100 kg of germ-infested meat and set it ablaze at the Punjab Agriculture and Meat Company’s furnace.

Similarly, food safety team confiscated 71,000 rotten eggs while carrying out a raid on Riasat Egg Storage for storing hatchery’s eggs.

Muhammad Usman said that it is strictly prohibited to store hatchery’s eggs in cold stores as per the policy which released regarding rotten eggs. The team not only seized the eggs but also sealed the premises.

The raid was made on the tip off of PFA’s vigilance cell, he added. Further, Shakeel Snacks Factory was sealed by PFA for frying snacks in rancid oil. Food authority also discovered the issues of labeling, poor storage and hygiene. He further said that PFA will not allow anyone to violate the law.