Hyderabad City, Telangana: The Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) of the Commissioner’s Task Force, in coordination with the Food Safety Department, conducted a special enforcement drive against illicit ghee manufacturing and trading establishments across Hyderabad City.
During the drive, 130 establishments, including 39 manufacturing units and 91 selling outlets, were inspected. Large-scale adulteration involving palm oil, vanaspathi, skimmed milk powder, starch and artificial ghee flavours was detected. The adulterated products were falsely marketed as “100% Pure Ghee,” “Premium Ghee,” “Farm Fresh Ghee” and “Natural Ghee.”
The teams seized approximately 36 tonnes of adulterated ghee and raw materials, comprising 25.5 tonnes of adulterated ghee, 8.7 tonnes of cream, 1,200 liters of palm oil, 600 liters of vanaspathi, artificial ghee flavours and 30 kg of starch. Statutory samples were collected for laboratory analysis, and the seized material was handed over to the Food Safety Authorities for further legal action.
Investigations revealed that the adulterated ghee, with adulteration levels ranging from 10% to 40%, was supplied to restaurants, tiffin centers, sweet manufacturers, bakeries, caterers, dairy shops and Ayurvedic shops, besides being used as pooja/deepam ghee. The products were manufactured at low-cost using substitute ingredients and sold as genuine ghee for higher profits.
The use of unauthorized oils and chemical additives in adulterated ghee may pose serious health risks, including increased cardiovascular, digestive, liver and kidney-related complications. Consumers are advised to purchase dairy products only from reputed and licensed vendors and to verify FSSAI license details, manufacturer information, batch number and manufacturing/expiry dates.
Citizens are requested to report suspected food adulteration or unhygienic food preparation through Dial 112 or the H-FAST helpline 8712661212. The identity of informants will be kept confidential.
The operation was conducted by H-FAST Inspectors N. Ranjith Kumar Goud and M. Anjaiah, along with SIs Ramya, Abhilash, Shankar, Krishna and Akhil, under the leadership of Sri Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, IPS, DCP, Task Force, Hyderabad City.
Our Citizen Reporter – Telangana
B. Bharath Reddy
