The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) will start two-day ghee, butter and cheese sampling campaign from next month across Punjab. The purpose of the campaign is to ensure provision of safe and healthy food by checking the quality and standard of products. PFA Director General Muhammad Usman has directed teams to collect samples for laboratory testing from the open market on September 4-5. He said samples would be collected in the presence of the company's representatives by following the blind-sampling method. In this connection, the Punjab Food Authority has released notification to companies for contacting the PFA no later than 3rd of September.

Furthermore, he said the PFA teams would collect samples according to the standard operating procedure if any company doesn't contact. He said the PFA would send samples to more than one laboratory for lab test. On the completion of sampling campaign, results would be published for public interest and awareness. In the light of laboratory report, indiscriminate action would be taken against ghee, butter and cheese manufacturing companies by immediately closing their production if results are not found satisfactory.

He said every food which is accessible to the public is checked multiple times in a year as per schedule. Analysis of ghee, butter and cheese is the part of PFA Annual Sampling Schedule 2019. The Director General further said that the Punjab Food Authority would cancel the license of the company in case of proved counterfeiting and adulteration in the product. There is no place for adulterators in Punjab and violators would be dealt with iron hands. All eatables which are being sold in the market are checked as per the annual sampling schedule. On the other hand, eatables are also checked surprisingly as well as sampling schedule, he added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019