Ahmedabad: On Thursday, the health department of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) carried out a raid at a bungalow situated in the Nikol area of the city, where a unit manufacturing fake ghee was unearthed. In a room on the first floor of the bungalow, ghee was being manufactured using a blend of vegetable fat and palm oil. The product was packed and sold in the name of cow ghee. The address mentioned on the cow ghee packets belonged to another manufacturing unit whose licence had lapsed, while the fake ghee was being produced and sold from this site without any licence.Following the raid, packets of fake ghee were seized and legal proceedings have been initiated. Deputy health officer Dr Tejas Shah said, “The room on the first floor of the residential premises has been sealed.” An official from the department said, “The health department received inputs that fake ghee was being manufactured without any authorization on the first floor of a residential bungalow located in Royal Bungalows society. Acting on this information, a team carried out an inspection of the said business unit. During the inspection, major discrepancies were detected on the premises.” He further said, “Ghee manufacturing was being carried out without obtaining FSSAI registration or licence. A mixture of vegetable fat and palm oil was being used for making fake and adulterated cow ghee. It was packed under the brand name ‘Mangalmurti’. Moreover, while the ghee was produced and packed at this residential location, it was shown as manufactured and packed in Ved Industry Park 2, Kathwada, Nikol. The address of the manufacturing unit mentioned on the packaging differed from the actual production location, and the licence of the unit shown had also expired.” He added, “500g jars and 100ml jars found on the premises have been seized, with an estimated market value of around Rs 1.6 lakh. In addition, empty 500g and 100ml jars meant for packing the fake ghee, along with a stock of labels to be pasted on the jars, were confiscated. Packing machinery, gas cylinders, utensils, and tubs were also seized. Samples of Cow Ghee (Mangalmurti) in 500g and 100ml pack jars have been collected and forwarded to the food laboratory for analysis under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.”
