Srinagar, Aug 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has ordered an immediate ban on the sale, storage, distribution and display of 10 identified batches of ghee after laboratory tests found them to be non-conforming to prescribed food safety standards.
The action was taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following testing of samples by the Notified Food Analyst at the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad and the Food Testing Laboratory in Kashmir.
The affected products include ghee sold under the brands Dairy Mohan, Apna Dairy Milk, Milk Bite, Nandni, Shahi Taj, Daawat Fresh, Nand Krishna, Vandu, Dairy Milk and Mohan Dairy.
The batches were identified through samples collected from various locations across Jammu and Kashmir, including Anantnag, Shangus, Larnoo, Bijbehara, Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Tral and Pampore.
The prohibited batches are:
Dairy Mohan Desi Ghee — Batch No. 5
Apna Dairy Milk Desi Ghee — Batch No. DM-6
Milk Bite Cow Ghee — Batch No. 137
Nandni Desi Ghee — Batch No. ND-28
Shahi Taj Desi Ghee — Batch No. 134
Daawat Fresh — Batch No. VT09
Nand Krishna Cow Ghee — Batch No. PC-05-26
Vandu Cow Ghee — Batch No. D143
Dairy Milk Desi Ghee — Batch No. OM12
Mohan Dairy Ghee — Batch No. 6
According to the laboratory reports, the samples showed several irregularities, including the presence of beta-sitosterol or foreign vegetable fat, positive Baudouin test results, abnormal fatty-acid profiles and variations from prescribed physicochemical standards.
Following the findings, the FDA has instructed food business operators, wholesalers, distributors and retailers across the Union Territory to immediately withdraw the specified batches from sale and ensure that they do not remain in circulation.
The concerned food business operators have also been asked to submit details of their remaining stocks of the affected batches to the respective Designated Officer within 48 hours.
Enforcement officials have been directed to closely monitor the market and take appropriate action to prevent the prohibited products from being sold or distributed further.
The administration has stressed that, under applicable food safety regulations, ghee must be derived exclusively from milk or milk products. Ghee containing added material not derived exclusively from milk fat is not permitted for sale.
The prohibition has come into force with immediate effect across Jammu and Kashmir as a measure aimed at protecting public health and consumer safety.
The FDA has urged consumers to exercise caution while purchasing ghee and verify the brand name, batch number and date of packing. Consumers and retailers have also been advised to inform food safety authorities if any of the prohibited batches are found being sold or stocked.
The order, however, does not prevent the concerned food business operators from exercising their statutory right to seek re-analysis of the samples through an FSSAI-notified Referral Laboratory, as provided under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and related rules.
