KOCHI: The food safety department on Wednesday banned two brands of ghee for substandard quality. According to officials of the department, the banned brands are A1 SKG Ghee and Amritham Pure Ghee, both manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based companies.
The squads had collected samples of these brands from Tripunithura and Muvattupuzha during an inspection on September 5. They were later sent for lab tests, which proved that ghee of both the brands were of substandard quality. Based on the lab tests, food safety commissioner Biju Prabhakar issued orders banning the brands.
Storing and selling these banned brands would invite punishment including imprisonment up to six months or fine up to Rs 2 lakh, officials said.
The department had begun intensive checks in the wake of huge demand arising during the Onam season. "We have already collected samples of milk from different parts of the district, which have been sent for lab tests to be conducted at the regional analytical laboratory at Kakkanad. Besides, tests will also be conducted by a government accredited laboratory," said an official of the food safety department.
Routine checks and collection of samples will be conducted till the weekend, the official added.
As the milk production in the state is not sufficient to meet the demand, milk is being brought from other states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. There are as many as 316 registered cooperative societies in the district involved in the production and procurement of milk.
The squads had collected samples of these brands from Tripunithura and Muvattupuzha during an inspection on September 5. They were later sent for lab tests, which proved that ghee of both the brands were of substandard quality. Based on the lab tests, food safety commissioner Biju Prabhakar issued orders banning the brands.
Storing and selling these banned brands would invite punishment including imprisonment up to six months or fine up to Rs 2 lakh, officials said.
The department had begun intensive checks in the wake of huge demand arising during the Onam season. "We have already collected samples of milk from different parts of the district, which have been sent for lab tests to be conducted at the regional analytical laboratory at Kakkanad. Besides, tests will also be conducted by a government accredited laboratory," said an official of the food safety department.
Routine checks and collection of samples will be conducted till the weekend, the official added.
As the milk production in the state is not sufficient to meet the demand, milk is being brought from other states such as Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra. There are as many as 316 registered cooperative societies in the district involved in the production and procurement of milk.
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