Authorities have seized 4,000 kg adulterated ghee valued at ₹17.5 lakh in Gujarat&rsquo;s Banaskantha district.
Food and Drugs Department of Gujarat conducted raids at the premises of Navkar Dairy Products in Deesa and Palanpur, leading to the collection of 11 samples and the seizure of 4,000 kg of ghee, valued at approximately ₹17.5 lakh. The confiscated stock was intended for sale in Rajasthan.
Notably, the trader had previously been fined for adulterating edible oil.
The Food and Drug Regulatory Authority, Banaskantha, had earlier issued notices to Navkar Dairy Products, after finding violations of the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations, 2011.
Despite being given two opportunities to rectify the shortcomings, the company failed to comply, leading to the cancellation of its license.
During the surprise inspection, officials discovered that the company was still producing ghee despite the cancellation of its license.
Upon questioning Sanjaykumar Babulal Mahesuriya, the person responsible, suspicions arose regarding the adulteration of ghee with soybean oil and interesterified vegetable fat. Consequently, 11 samples from different brands and weights were collected for testing.
The seized stock, prepared for sale during festive seasons in Rajasthan, was confiscated on-site in the public health interest.
The samples have been sent to the laboratory for analysis, and further legal action will follow based on the results.
The trader has a history of food adulteration, having previously been fined ₹1.25 lakh for adulterating edible oil and ₹25,000 in a criminal case related to colour adulteration in chilli powder.
In recent years, Gujarat has witnessed significant efforts to combat food adulteration, leading to substantial seizures and legal actions.
Between January 2023 and March 2024, the Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) conducted 15 special drives, targeting various food items such as nutraceuticals, farali foods, ghee, millets, dry fruits, nuts, seeds, bakery items, and spices. 
These operations resulted in the collection of 18,686 samples and the seizure of approximately 772.7 tonnes of suspected adulterated products worth ₹5.53 crore. Of these, 13.8 tonnes valued at ₹43.88 lakh were destroyed due to safety concerns.
&mdash;IANS

F&D dept had earlier issued notices to Navkar Dairy Products, after finding violations

F&D dept collect 11 samples from the confiscated ghee worth ₹17.5L

4,000 Kg Adulterated Ghee Seized in Gujarat

F&D dept collect 11 samples from the confiscated ghee worth ₹17.5L

February 26, 2025 | 17:02 IST