PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Food Safety and Halal Food Authority on Wednesday seized over 5,000 kg of fake and hazardous tea leaves from a unit during a raid on the Ashraf Road.
The fake tea processing unit was using non-food grade colours and other unhealthy items in the tea leaves. The raid was carried out on the directions of Director General KP FS&HFA, Shah Rukh Ali Khan.
According to the food safety authority, the fake tea leaves from the unit were seized and the sample was sent to the laboratory for further analysis.
The authority said that tea leaves were being prepared with the help of grinding and mixing machines.
Along with stock of unsanitary tea leaves, bran, sack and gram husks were also recovered from the unit. After mixing, the tea leaves were placed on the dirt floor on the roof of the buildings to dry.
According to the Food Safety Authority, the violation of the rules of hygiene and cleanliness was also found to be very poor.
The unit was sealed for the production of fake and harmful tea leaves; a heavy fine was imposed on the owners, while stricter legal action will be taken against the accused under the Food Safety Act.
The machines used in its production were also seized during the operation.
DG Shah Rukh Ali Khan has appreciated the officials for taking action against the unit, adding that the teams of the authority have initiated crackdowns against the units, factories producing harmful food items.
He said that the series of mega crackdowns will continue to ensure the supply of safe and quality food to the citizens. The elements harming public health should refrain from such actions, otherwise strict legal action will be taken against them.
