FDA seizes stock of adulterated soybean, sunflower oil

PUNE: Officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized edible oil of a particular brand in Pune district suspecting adulteration. The traders blended cheap edible oil with sunflower and soybean oil and misled people to earn extra profit, said the officials. 

The officials have now intensified surveillance across Pune to nab the offenders involved in oil adulteration. 

"We got a tip off about the adulteration, following which our food safety officials seized stock of refined edible oil worth Rs 1.53 lakh from a trader in Baramati on May 16. We have drawn samples and sent them for tests to the designated government laboratory. Further action will be initiated based on the report, which is expected in the next few days," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune. 

S B Naragude, assistant commissioner, FDA who guided the raid said, "The primary report we received was about blending of cheap form of edible oil with sunflower and soybean oil. We directed our officials to raid the shops of the oil distributor in Baramati." 

Food safety officials Vikas Sonawane and Avinash Dabhade conducted the raids under the guidance of senior officials from FDA, Pune. 

State FDA's vigilance department in the past raided several oil mills, took samples and found packets of sunflower, soybean, groundnut oil, refilled with cotton seed oil. 

"There are instances where miscreants removed 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," said Dipak Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA, Pune. 

At present, 80% of the 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.