PUNE: In six separate
raids, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials seized edible
oil of a particular brand worth Rs 8.54 lakh, from six traders, on
suspicion of adulteration, on Thursday. Five traders were from Pune and
one was from Chinchwad.
"Our vigilance department in Mumbai informed us about the adulteration, following which our food safety officials seized stock of refined edible oil from six traders in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The seized oil stock is worth Rs 8.54 lakh. We have drawn 10 samples and sent them for tests to our laboratory in Mumbai. Further action will be initiated based on the report, which is expected in the next 15 days," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
"The primary report we received was about blending of cheap form of edible oil with sunflower and soybean oil. Hence, we directed our officials to raid the shops of oil distributors in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad," Kekare added.
Food safety officials K B Jadhav, Parag Nalawade, Prashant Gunjal, Vijay Unawane, Avinash Dabhade and Uday Lohakare conducted the raids.
Edible oil is a major source of fat, where the quality of the oil cannot be compromised. As the demand increases, adulteration of edible oil with cheaper oil is also prevalent.
The vigilance department recently raided several oil mills, took samples and found packets of sunflower, soybean, groundnut oil, refilled with cotton seed oil. "There are instances where miscreants remove oil from tins of reputed brands and mix it with ordinary palm oil or any other cheap variety of oil or a cheap form of oil blended with a good quality one. Adulteration of oil has become rampant," said Dipak Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
At present, 80% of edible oil in the country is sold in loose form, which according to trade sources, is in the blended form. For example, refined sunflower oil or soybean oil in loose form is a blend of the respective oil and palm oil in a ratio of 65:35.
According to experts, such impurities are difficult to identify, as the blending of palm oil does not change the physical property or taste of the product.
But it changes the chemical property, which affects the consumers' health in the long run. Selling of loose edible oil is not permitted in developed countries.
"Our vigilance department in Mumbai informed us about the adulteration, following which our food safety officials seized stock of refined edible oil from six traders in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The seized oil stock is worth Rs 8.54 lakh. We have drawn 10 samples and sent them for tests to our laboratory in Mumbai. Further action will be initiated based on the report, which is expected in the next 15 days," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
"The primary report we received was about blending of cheap form of edible oil with sunflower and soybean oil. Hence, we directed our officials to raid the shops of oil distributors in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad," Kekare added.
Food safety officials K B Jadhav, Parag Nalawade, Prashant Gunjal, Vijay Unawane, Avinash Dabhade and Uday Lohakare conducted the raids.
Edible oil is a major source of fat, where the quality of the oil cannot be compromised. As the demand increases, adulteration of edible oil with cheaper oil is also prevalent.
The vigilance department recently raided several oil mills, took samples and found packets of sunflower, soybean, groundnut oil, refilled with cotton seed oil. "There are instances where miscreants remove oil from tins of reputed brands and mix it with ordinary palm oil or any other cheap variety of oil or a cheap form of oil blended with a good quality one. Adulteration of oil has become rampant," said Dipak Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
At present, 80% of edible oil in the country is sold in loose form, which according to trade sources, is in the blended form. For example, refined sunflower oil or soybean oil in loose form is a blend of the respective oil and palm oil in a ratio of 65:35.
According to experts, such impurities are difficult to identify, as the blending of palm oil does not change the physical property or taste of the product.
But it changes the chemical property, which affects the consumers' health in the long run. Selling of loose edible oil is not permitted in developed countries.
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