J&K FDA bans sale, storage and distribution of 10 batches of ghee: Why it was banned and what it means | Today’s news
The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale, storage and distribution of 10 substandard brands of ghee, local newspapers and news agencies reported.
Jammu and Kashmir order issues The FDA has banned the sale, storage, distribution and display of 10 identified brands/lots of ghee in the Union Territory after laboratory analysis found the products to be substandard, unsafe and misbranded, reports said.
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The action in Jammu and Kashmir comes amid a recent crackdown by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Maharashtra Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe in his state. A suspected food packaging racket involving alteration of expiry dates was busted in Navi Mumbai led by Tukaram Mundhe on Monday, with officials seizing products from brands including Maggi and Lay’s, the FDA said on Monday.
Following the operation, the FDA suspended the license of Sadhana Enterprises, which operates in the TTC industrial area in Turbha.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the measures were taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, officials told local news agencies. This was after laboratory examination of the samples by the Notified Food Analyst, National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad and Food Testing Laboratory in Kashmir.
What are the prohibited products?
Banned products include: Dairy Mohan, Apna Dairy Milk, Milk Bite, Nandni, Shahi Taj, Daawat Fresh, Nand Krishna, Vandu, Dairy Milk and Mohan Dairy.
The affected batches were detected in samples collected from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Anantnag, Shangus, Larnoo, Bijbehara, Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Tral and Pampore.
The action was taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 after examination of samples by notified food analysts at the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and Food Testing Laboratory, Kashmir, according to a report in Greater Kashmir.
Mismatched products
– Mohan Desi Ghee Dairy Products (Batch No. 5),
-Apna Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. DM-6)
-Milk Bite Cow Ghee (Batch #137)
-Nandni Desi Ghee (Batch No. ND-28)
-Shahi Taj Desi Ghee (Batch #134)
-Daawat Fresh (Batch No. VT09)
-Nand Krishna Cow Ghee (Batch No. PC-05-26)
-Vandu Cow Ghee (Batch No. D143)
-Desi Ghee Dairy Milk (Batch No. OM12)
-Mohan Dairy Ghee (Batch No. 6).
What was found in the samples?
Laboratory findings in the affected samples included the presence of beta-sitosterol/foreign vegetable fat, a positive Baudouin test, abnormal fatty acid profiles and deviations from prescribed physicochemical parameters,
The FDA directed all food business operators (FBOs), wholesalers, distributors, and retailers to immediately stop the sale and distribution of the affected lots and to ensure that such products do not remain in circulation.
The affected food business operators were also directed to report the stock status of the affected batches to the concerned authorized officer within 48 hours.
The UT administration reiterated that as per the applicable food safety norms, ghee is required to be derived exclusively from milk or milk products, while ghee containing any added substance not derived exclusively from milk fat is not allowed to be sold.
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The ban has been imposed with immediate effect in Jammu and Kashmir in the interest of public health and consumer safety.
The FDA also urges consumers to remain vigilant and check the brand, lot number and pack date when purchasing ghee.
This prohibitory measure is a precautionary measure in public interest and is without prejudice to the statutory right of affected food business operators to seek re-analysis through a reference laboratory notified by FSSAI in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 and the rules made thereunder.
