PFA seals 9 salt process companies over failed to ensure salt fortification. The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has vigorously crackdown held against salt process companies throughout province after completing the given deadline to them about to ensure food fortification in salt and food standards.
Out of 264 salt factories, 9 were sealed and 164 served with warning notices for not abiding with PFA’s instructions. On the special directions of PFA Director General Noor ul Amin Mengal, Food Safety Teams (FSTs) under the supervision of Deputy Directors and Food Safety Officers of the respective area conducted raids from Rawalpindi to Lahore to Multan.
FSTs have sealed 2 factories in Multan region, 3 in Lahore and 4 in Rawalpindi regions. PFA was given a deadline to salt companies during a meeting with their representatives in 2017, chaired by DG PFA.
Noor ul Amin Mengal said that improvement notices have been issued up to a month after completing the deadline however, dozens of salt process companies failed to fulfill the requirements of PFA despite of provided soft corner to them. He said that PFA has given business adjustment time to all salt processors for the fortification of salt till Feb15. Salt is a staple ingredient of food and it is compulsory for processors to add iodine in its manufacturing. Use of iodine salt in routine life will help to control the nutritional deficiency. PFA is ensuring the fortification and ratification process of salt, flour, cooking oil and ghee also, he added.