Illegal unit closed, 1 tonne adulterated ghee seized

Madurai: Close on the heels of acting against adulterated oil unit, food safety officials seized adulterated ghee weighing around 1 tonne and closed the illegal unit in the city. The worth of the seized ghee is estimated to be at least Rs 2 lakh. Officials said that the unit which has been functioning for several months would have sold adulterated ghee weighing hundreds of tonnes.

In the oil unit, which was unearthed last month at Chinthamani, over 10 tonnes of oil was seized. It was found that flavour mixed palm oil was sold as ground nut and gingelly oil at a higher price.

A team of officials led by designated officer for food safety Dr M Somasundram conducted a check in the illegal ghee manufacturing unit, functioning at a complex in Iravathanallur on Ramanathapuram road. “Samples have been lifted and sent for lab testing. Severe action would be taken against the proprietor. If proven, the offence can attract fine amount and even jail sentence up to six months,” Somasundaram said.

Three large containers of adulterated ghee and boxes of ghee cans which were ready for market have been seized. “We found the product in the market. Inquiries led us to the unit. We suspect that many such units may function in the city as well as rural areas. The crackdown against such units would be conducted,” Somasundaram said.

Officials said that rejected packets of vanaspathi procured from the production units were mixed with oil to bring it to the consistency of ghee. The mixture was added with flavour and colours to make it smell and look like ghee. The officials could not find much of ghee in the unit.

“We found a large number of containers of oil and vanaspathi. The unit has been functioning stealthy without even a board,” said the designated officer.

Officials said that the maximum retail price of the ghee was printed as Rs 600 per kgs, even as Aavin ghee is sold at only Rs 460. They had printed sticker rolls with addresses mentioned in Tirupur and Erode. They had packing rolls with different brand names as well. The units had two machines, both worth Rs 3 lakh. They were used for packing. The unit was also manufacturing adulterated coconut oil and other edible oils, said the officials.