The Islamabad Food Authority (IFA) has sealed Haideri Beverages and Beverages Plus, the main distributor of Pepsi, in Humak Model Town, Islamabad. The action was taken during a surprise inspection carried out without prior notice. The raid was conducted in coordination with the ICT Assistant Commissioner after authorities received reports of serious food safety violations.
According to sources, inspectors discovered expired and fungus-contaminated sugar allegedly being used in the production of Pepsi and other beverages. During the inspection, the team recorded four major breaches of food safety rules. These included failure to follow earlier instructions issued by the IFA, the presence of around 150 sugar bags with altered expiry dates, clear signs of cockroach infestation on sugar bags, and improper storage of sugar directly on the floor, violating hygiene standards.
Officials also collected two samples of spilled sugar from the premises for laboratory testing to confirm the findings. While awaiting the test results, the food authority took strict action by sealing a total of 54,874 sugar bags found at both facilities.
In addition to sealing the sugar stock, the authorities sealed entire warehouses at the sites. All production, sale, and purchase activities were immediately suspended until further notice. Officials stated that the expired sugar alone is estimated to be worth millions of rupees, highlighting the seriousness of the violations and the potential risk to public health.
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