New Delhi: Hyderabad Police have launched a major crackdown on suspected adulterated ghee, with teams inspecting 130 establishments across the city on Tuesday.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) and the Food Safety Department.
Acting on public complaints and intelligence inputs, officials checked 39 ghee manufacturing units and 91 selling outlets. Police said the inspections uncovered an alleged operation involving the production and sale of synthetic ghee using cheaper substitutes and unauthorised additives.
What teams found
Around 36 tonnes of material was seized during the crackdown. This included 25.5 tonnes of suspected adulterated ghee, 8.7 tonnes of cream, 1,200 litres of palm oil, 600 litres of vanaspati, 30 kg of starch and artificial ghee flavouring agents.
VIDEO | Telangana: Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team seizes 25.5 tonnes of adulterated ghee and 10.5 tonnes of raw materials.
(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/d8jp61yd2p) pic.twitter.com/AU6lHVTZmH
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Investigators said some manufacturers were allegedly combining milk solids or skimmed milk powder with palm oil, vanaspati, starch and artificial flavours to replicate the taste, smell and appearance of genuine ghee.
Police also found products allegedly being sold under labels including “100% Pure Ghee”, “Premium Ghee”, “Farm Fresh Ghee” and “Natural Ghee”, despite alleged violations of mandatory labelling rules.
Products allegedly supplied across city
According to police, adulteration levels ranged between 10% and 40%. The suspected products were allegedly supplied to restaurants, tiffin centres, sweet shops, bakeries, caterers, hotels and Ayurvedic outlets. Some stock was also being sold as pooja or “deepam” ghee.
The seized material has been handed over to Food Safety authorities while statutory samples have been collected for laboratory testing and further legal action.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said enforcement would continue against those putting public health at risk. “Public participation is crucial in the fight against food adulteration. Citizens should remain vigilant and purchase dairy products only from reputed and licensed vendors,” Sajjanar said.
Police also advised consumers to avoid suspiciously cheap or unbranded ghee and check seals, manufacturer details and valid FSSAI licence information before buying.
