Adulterated ghee seized in Tiruppur

B. Vijayalalithambigai (second left), Designated Officer, FSSAI, seizing the adulterated ghee at a house in Velliangadu, Tiruppur, on Sunday.

Sellers use palmolein oil and vanaspati to prepare the ghee

Nearly 500 litres of adulterated ghee was seized by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) officials from seven houses at Velliangadu in Tiruppur on Sunday.

A team led by B. Vijayalalithambigai, Designated Officer, FSSAI (Tiruppur), raided the houses following the seizure of 13 litres of adulterated ghee from a seller on a two-wheeler on Mangalam Road in Avinashi. The seven ghee sellers were from Sivaganga.

Dr. Vijayalalithambigai told The Hindu that the samples were sent to laboratories on Wednesday and further action would be taken based on the test results. Upon investigation, the officials discovered that the sellers used palmolein oil and vanaspati to prepare the ghee. For the colour, they had used certain seeds that imparted yellow colour and added artificial essence for aroma, she said.

“The ghee was being sold for ₹ 240 per litre, which is half the market price of pure ghee. Regular intake of adulterated ghee will harm the digestive system, particularly that of children,” Dr. Vijayalalithambigai said.

On September 7, the FSSAI officials seized 1,310 litres of palmolein oil from a company on Palladam Road for failing to meet the standards of Food Safety and Standards Act.

In a press release, Dr. Vijayalalithambigai warned public to avoid buying substandard ghee from those who sell it on two-wheelers. Anyone who finds sale of adulterated food may report it to FSSAI via WhatsApp at 94440 42322, the release said.