LAHORE: An enforcement team of the Punjab Food Authority on Saturday discarded over 280kg of dead chickens and more than two maunds of substandard meat, sealed a meat shop and lodged an FIR during an early-morning operation at Tollinton Market and Bakra Mandi. The PFA food safety teams conducted the operation and confiscated two freezers from the sealed meat shop. Teams inspected 12 meat godowns, suppliers and shops and checked 37,000kg of chickens. Heavy fines were imposed on two outlets, while 10 improvement notices were issued for various violations. The Director General said that action was taken after diseased chickens were recovered during inspection. He said that mandatory records and essential documents were not available at the premises. A veterinary specialist present on the spot declared the chickens unfit for human consumption after a detailed examination. He said that poor cleanliness conditions, broken freezers, absence of production and expiry dates and lack of employees’ medical certificates were found at the meat shop. Food business activities were also being carried out without a valid licence, while beef and meat of diseased chickens was being prepared for supply to markets. The DG PFA said that the Meat Safety Team took timely action and successfully foiled the supply of diseased chickens to Lahore’s markets. He warned that businesses involved in selling unsafe food will face strict action under the law. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025