Health & Policy | June 2026 | 4 min read
⚡ Quick Takeaways
- PFA destroyed 18,000 kilograms of unsafe pickles in Multan.
- Officials also seized 12,000 litres of substandard loose cooking oil.
- The oil was allegedly prepared from animal fat without proper approvals.
- A sweets unit was fined Rs. 100,000 over substandard ingredients.
- The authority says food adulteration operations will continue across Punjab.
Punjab Food Authority’s latest Multan operation has put unsafe food production back in the spotlight after inspectors destroyed large quantities of contaminated pickles and seized substandard oil allegedly prepared from animal fat.
| 18,000 KG | 12,000 L | Rs. 100,000 |
| Unsafe pickles destroyed | Substandard oil seized | Fine on sweets unit |
Unsafe Food Stock Destroyed During Multan Inspections
The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) destroyed 18,000 kilograms of hazardous pickles and seized 12,000 litres of substandard oil during enforcement action in Multan. The operation was supervised by PFA Director General Syed Musa Raza, who visited the city and reviewed field operations with food safety teams.
According to the available details, the inspections covered three food production units located in Basti Ali Wala, Gardezi Mor Adda Lar and Khanewal Road. Officials said the operation focused on businesses suspected of producing or supplying unsafe food items in poor hygienic conditions.
| Consumer Alert: Loose oil, spoiled pickles and food prepared in unhygienic units can create serious health risks. Consumers should prefer labelled and verified food products. |
Oil Made From Animal Fat Found Without Proper Approval
During one inspection, PFA teams found a fat-rendering unit allegedly producing and supplying loose cooking oil made from animal fat. The unit was operating without a valid food licence and without environmental registration, according to the spokesperson quoted in the report.
The authority confiscated 12,000 litres of substandard oil and registered a case against the owner. Officials said such oil cannot be allowed into the food supply chain because consumers may not know its source, quality, handling conditions or safety status.
| Item / Unit | Location or Action | Quantity / Amount | Status |
| Pickle facility | Stock destroyed on site | 18,000 KG | Hazardous / fungus-infested |
| Fat-rendering unit | Oil confiscated | 12,000 litres | Case registered |
| Sohan Halwa unit | Fine imposed | Rs. 100,000 | Substandard ingredients |
| Inspection drive | Three units checked | Multan sites | Enforcement continued |
Fungus-Infested Pickles Removed From the Market
In another part of the operation, inspectors recovered 18,000 kilograms of foul-smelling and fungus-infested pickles from a manufacturing facility. The stock was described as hazardous and was destroyed on the spot to prevent it from reaching consumers.
Food safety officials often treat pickle production as a sensitive category because poor storage, contaminated ingredients and weak hygiene controls can quickly affect large batches. When such products are supplied in bulk, the risk is not limited to one shop or one customer; it can spread through retailers and food service points.
| Why It Matters: Large seizures show why routine food inspections are important. Unsafe products can enter homes, restaurants and shops before consumers notice visible spoilage. |
Sweets Unit Fined as PFA Reviews Field Performance
A sweets production unit was also fined Rs. 100,000 for using substandard ingredients in the preparation of Sohan Halwa. The fine adds another food category to the same inspection drive, showing that the authority’s action was not limited to oil and pickles only.
During his Multan visit, DG Syed Musa Raza also chaired a meeting at the Regional Directorate office. The meeting reviewed administrative performance, ongoing operations and the efficiency of food safety teams working in the region. Such reviews are meant to assess whether inspections are being carried out consistently and whether enforcement staff are responding quickly to complaints and risks.
PFA Warns Food Businesses to Follow Safety Rules
Syed Musa Raza said the provision of safe, quality and adulteration-free food was the authority’s top priority. He warned that the crackdown against adulteration and unhygienic production practices would continue across Punjab without discrimination.
The warning is important for food business operators because the latest operation involved multiple actions at once: confiscation, on-site destruction, a police case and a financial penalty. It signals that businesses dealing in food manufacturing, oil supply, sweets and preserved items may face strict legal action if they ignore licensing, hygiene, storage and ingredient standards.
| Compliance Note: Food businesses should maintain valid licences, safe storage, worker hygiene, ingredient records and clean production areas to avoid penalties and closures. |
Disclaimer: This article is based on official and reported details available at the time of publication. Readers should follow updates from Punjab Food Authority and relevant departments for further action or legal proceedings.
