Summary
- GUJRANWALA/GUJRAT: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) seized 370 kilograms of oil allegedly produced from animal fat during a raid in Gujranwala on Monday and registered a criminal case against the suspect, while separate inspections in Gujrat resulted in fines, destruction of unsafe food and another FIR over food safety violations.
- One additional criminal case was registered over what officials described as serious violations of food safety laws.
- Punjab Food Authority officials said inspections would continue across the province as part of the ongoing campaign against adulteration and the sale of substandard food products.
GUJRANWALA/GUJRAT: The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) seized 370 kilograms of oil allegedly produced from animal fat during a raid in Gujranwala on Monday and registered a criminal case against the suspect, while separate inspections in Gujrat resulted in fines, destruction of unsafe food and another FIR over food safety violations.
According to the PFA spokesperson, the operation was carried out on the directions of Director General Syed Musa Raza. Additional Director Operations led the raid on Chaman Shah Road, where officials intercepted a loader rickshaw transporting 24 tins containing fat-rendered oil.
The authority seized the entire consignment, including the vehicle used for transportation. Officials said the suspect failed to produce the required record and licence. They also claimed the oil did not contain the mandatory marker dye required for rendered fat oil, prompting legal action.
A case was registered against the suspect under the relevant laws.
Commenting on the operation, DG Syed Musa Raza said oil extracted from animal offal can only be used for industrial purposes such as biodiesel production and cannot be converted into edible cooking oil. He said manufacturing or supplying cooking oil from fat-rendered material was a serious offence and warned that those endangering public health for profit would face strict action.
He also urged the public to report food adulteration and other violations to the Punjab Food Authority through its complaint helpline.
In a separate enforcement drive, PFA teams inspected 55 food businesses across Gujrat district. During the inspections, 14 food outlets were served improvement notices for hygiene and food safety violations, while three businesses were fined a total of Rs53,000.
The teams also discarded 90 kilograms of unhealthy chicken and six kilograms of prohibited food items found during the inspections. One additional criminal case was registered over what officials described as serious violations of food safety laws.
Punjab Food Authority officials said inspections would continue across the province as part of the ongoing campaign against adulteration and the sale of substandard food products.
