Govt bans sale of Grorich

State Government on Tuesday ordered ban on manufacture, storage, sale and distribution of food product namely “Grorich” which is manufactured by M/S Utility Pharmaceuticals, Solan (HP).

“In exercise of powers conferred by clause (a) of subsection (2) of section 30 of Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, and as an abundant precaution, in the interest of public health, we hereby prohibit in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, manufacture, storage, sale, distribution of the food product “Grorich” with immediate effect. The notification shall come into force at once,” reads an order issued by Drugs and Food Control Organization.

The prohibition order notes that a sample of food product namely “Grorich” bearing lot No. G-1025, Mfg. Date: Dec 2016 Expiry Date: 18 months from Mfg date, manufactured by M/S Utility Pharmaceuticals, Solan (HP) was lifted and sent to National Anti-Doping Agency for quality opinion.

The Doping Agency in its report No. 05/13/2017/NADA dated: 14.08.2017 has reported that the above sample contains 2-phenethylamine which is a prohibited substance and is likely to pose health risk to the end users.

Meanwhile, Food Safety & Standards Authority of India had requested all the Commissioners of Food Safety to check the use of such substances (narcotic drug or a psychotropic substance as defined in the schedule of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (61 of 1985) and rules made there under, and substances listed in schedules E and EI of Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945) in food supplements and in case of any suspicion, samples may be drawn and sent to National Anti-Doping Agency.

It (order) said Food means any substance, whether processed, partially processed or unprocessed which is intended for human consumption and included primary food to the extent defined in clause (zk), genetically modified or engineered food or food containing such ingredient, infant food, packaged drinking water, alcoholic drink, chewing gum, and any substance, including water used into the food during its manufacture, preparation or treatment but does not include any animal feed, live animals unless they are prepared or processed for placing on the market for human consumption, plants, prior to harvesting, drugs and medicinal products, cosmetics, narcotic or psychotropic substances.