Telangana seizes 850 kg of suspected adulterated ghee
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Food Safety Department has intensified its crackdown on the manufacture and sale of adulterated ghee, seizing 850 kg of suspected adulterated ghee during a statewide special drive.
Statewide inspections target adulterated ghee
Acting on credible information that manufacturers were mixing palm oil, vanaspati and other fats with ghee, Food Safety officers conducted special inspections across the state on July 14 and 15 in coordination with the police, Food Safety Commissioner Dr Sangita Satyanarayana said.
Preliminary inspections found that some licensed manufacturers had allegedly mixed other fats into ghee. Officials also identified several units manufacturing and selling ghee without the required licence or registration.
Samples collected from the establishments have been sent for laboratory testing. Legal action will be initiated against those found violating the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, after the laboratory reports are received.
According to the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, ghee must contain 99.5% milk fat, while its moisture content must not exceed 0.5%. Mixing vegetable fats such as palm oil or vanaspati with ghee is prohibited under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the Commissioner said.
850 kg seized during Hyderabad drive
During a special inspection in Hyderabad’s CURE area, officials inspected 14 establishments and collected 15 ghee samples.
Authorities destroyed 60 kg of ghee on the spot after finding it unfit for consumption. They also seized 850 kg of suspected adulterated ghee.
The seized stock will remain in safe custody until laboratory reports are received. If adulteration is confirmed, stringent action will be taken against the concerned Food Business Operators, Dr Sangita Satyanarayana said.
In inspections conducted across various districts, Food Safety officers inspected 65 establishments, collected 91 ghee samples for testing and issued notices to five establishments for violating food safety norms.
Consumers urged to verify FSSAI licence
The Commissioner advised consumers to purchase ghee only from licensed and trusted manufacturers.
She urged buyers to verify the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence number and manufacturing label before purchasing. Consumers should preserve purchase bills and immediately report suspected adulterated food products or unlicensed food businesses to the Food Safety Department, she added.
