Srinagar, August 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has imposed a ban on the sale, storage, and distribution of 10 substandard brands of ghee as of Sunday.
According to an order issued by the Jammu and Kashmir FDA, the sale, storage, distribution, and display of these identified brands/batches of ghee have been halted in the union territory. This action was taken after laboratory analyses revealed that these products were of low quality, unsafe, and improperly branded.
The FDA’s decision is in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006. The action followed laboratory testing of samples conducted by the notified food analyst from the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad and the food testing laboratory in Kashmir.
The banned products include Dairy Mohan, Apna Dairy Milk, Milk Bite, Nandani, Shahi Taj, Dawat Fresh, Nand Krishna, Vandu, Dairy Milk, and Mohan Dairy.
Samples collected from various regions of Jammu and Kashmir, including Anantnag, Shangus, Larnu, Bijbehara, Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Tral, and Pampore, identified the affected batches.
The products found to be non-compliant include Dairy Mohan Desi Ghee (Batch No. 5), Apna Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. DM-6), Milk Bite Cow Ghee (Batch No. 137), Nandani Desi Ghee (Batch No. ND-28), Shahi Taj Desi Ghee (Batch No. 134), Dawat Fresh (Batch No. VT09), Nand Krishna Cow Ghee (Batch No. PC-05-26), Vandu Cow Ghee (Batch No. D143), Dairy Milk Desi Ghee (Batch No. OM12), and Mohan Dairy Ghee (Batch No. 6).
Laboratory test findings indicated the presence of beta-sitosterol/foreign vegetable fats, positive Bodoin tests, abnormal fatty acid profiles, and deviations from established physical-chemical parameters.
The Food and Food Department (FDO) has directed all food business operators (FBOs), wholesalers, distributors, and retailers to immediately cease the sale and distribution of the affected batches and ensure that such products are not available in the market.
FBOs have also been instructed to report their stock status of the affected batches to the designated officer within 48 hours.
Enforcement officials have been tasked with closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary actions to prevent the further spread of the banned food items.
The administration reiterated that according to applicable food safety standards, ghee should only be derived from milk or milk products, and any ghee containing additional substances not derived from milk fat is prohibited for sale.
This ban is effective immediately in the interest of public health and consumer safety in Jammu and Kashmir.
The FDA has urged consumers to remain vigilant and check the brand, batch number, and packing date when purchasing ghee.
Consumers and retailers are advised to promptly report any sale or availability of the banned batches to the relevant food safety officials.
This prohibitory action is a precautionary measure in the public interest and does not affect the statutory rights of food business operators to seek re-analysis through the notified referral laboratory as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act of 2006 and its associated regulations.
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