On the directions of Punjab Food Authority (PFA) Director General (DG) Captain (r) Muhammad Usman, food safety teams carried out a grand operation against adulterators and unhygienic food points in Sahiwal and its surrounding areas on Saturday. During the operation, PFA has sealed three snack factories, fake cheese units and a sweet production unit on account of adulteration and substandard operations. The authority also discarded more than 2,000 kilogrammes substandard and unwholesome food. The operation was continued 10 hours long under the supervision of PFA officials. PFA DG says Nimra and Moazam Food Industry and another factory shut down for manufacturing substandard quality food products for kids Muhammad Usman said that PFA has sealed Nimra Food Industry, Moazam Food Industry and one more factory for manufacturing substandard quality food products for children. He said that used oil, matri daal and adulterated spices were being used in the preparation of snacks. However, the use of matri daal is strictly prohibited in edible food products as it causes health diseases. In another raid, PFA shut down Sun Rise Dairy Foods for failing to meet the hygiene working environment and using rusty vessels for the preparation of cheese. The DG further said that enforcement team discarded 125kg spoiled cheese on the spot over proved contamination of harmful chemicals and other adulterated ingredients in it. He informed that PFA has discarded 300kg matri daal, 100kg adulterated spices, 545kg expired salanty and 120kg substandard flour. Similarly, provincial food body shut down a production unit of a famous sweet shop for using loose non-food grade colours, harmful ghee and other adulterated ingredients in it. Usman said that the authority also witnessed poor hygiene, an abundance of insects and the presence of cobwebs during raid. He has appealed citizens to keep an eye in their surroundings on the enemy of public health. He further said that people can inform PFA concerning adulteration mafia on its Facebook page and toll-free number 0800-80500. PFA is taking action day and night against adulterators for rooting out the menace of adulteration from Punjab, he added. Published in Daily Times, January 20th 2019.