Four factories sealed

LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority held a massive crackdown on non-food grade plastic bottles manufacturing and its use for food products here Tuesday.During the operation, food safety teams sealed four factories, including two in Sheikhupura and one each in Lahore and Faisalabad. These factories were shut down due to the production of non-food grade bottles, false labelling and lack of proper record. Food grade pre-form can be used for food products, while non-food grade is not suitable for this purpose.Meanwhile, enforcement teams confiscated 17,000 empty bottles (non-food grade), a huge amount of raw material and machinery during the raids.PFA Director General Muhammad Usman said the authority took strict action against Iqbal Bottles, Ali Din Plastic, Meezan Plastics and Jutt Plastic Bottles over failure to meet the standards of Punjab Pure Food Regulations 2018. He said that PFA also stopped the production of 10 factories for not complying with authority instructions and due to the presence of untraceable plastic particles. Further, PFA warned three units for improvement.The PFA director general said that only the bottles prepared from food grade plastic be used in food items. He said it was necessary for manufacturers to write “it is not for use of food items” on non-food grade bottles. He said the use of non-food grade bottle was posing a serious threat to the users’ health while causing fatal diseases. He said it was compulsory for manufacturers to keep the record of raw material (pre-form) and non-food grade bottles which produced through the crushing procedure.Meanwhile, PFA was ready to deliver its promise concerning to provide nutrition clinics in 36 districts of Punjab. The officials said while PFA will start step-by-step inauguration of clinics from next week. In this connection, a meeting was held between provincial minister for food Samiullah Chaudhry and PFA Director General Captain (R) Muhammad Usman to review the preparations for clinics inauguration at PFA headquarters Tuesday. The authority will request Chief Minister Usman Buzdar for the inauguration of the clinic.Samiullah Chaudhry said the formation of nutrition clinics were part of the completion of Healthy Punjab Mission. The PFA DG said PFA was playing a vital role in promoting a healthy food culture among people through Facebook live programme titled “Ghaza Ki Baat”.

from The News International - Lahore https://ift.tt/2OGxNgJ