Hyderabad: Conducting a flying squad inspection at Meghana Foods in Nacharam as part of a special drive, the food safety department seized ghee and packaged milk worth Rs 7.7 lakh, suspecting adulteration, on Monday. The seized items include 632 packs of cow ghee (394 kg) worth Rs 2.7 lakh and 7,208 milk tetra packs valued at Rs 5 lakh.According to the commissioner of food safety office, Sangeeta Satyanarayana the unit was found allegedly selling milk and ghee products under the ‘Vijaya’ brand. However, officials found that the distribution facility was operating without a valid FSSAI licence, raising concerns about the authenticity and safety of the products.“During the inspection, we found that the cow ghee (Vijaya brand) was manufactured by a dairy in Gujarat, while Vijaya Suprabhatam UHT Toned Milk tetra packs were produced by a dairy in Indore. Both products were being marketed by Meghana Food, located in Rikabgunj, Charminar, with claims of being a franchise of the AP Dairy Development Co-Operative Federation. We suspect adulteration as the distribution point at IDA Nacharam was found to be unauthorized and operating without a valid FSSAI license,” she added.Officials sent samples of the products for laboratory analysis, while the remaining stock has been sealed. “A notice has been issued to the operator, and further action will be taken based on test results,” said the commissioner. The inspections were a part of a broader statewide special enforcement drive, during which 71 inspections were conducted, and 91 samples were collected to assess quality standards.Officials said that the drive revealed several violations, including the sale of loose cow and buffalo milk and non-branded ghee across multiple districts. Milk centres were found operating without valid registration certificates, prompting authorities to issue notices. In certain instances, loose ghee deemed unsafe during preliminary checks was discarded.“All collected samples have been sent for testing, and further action will be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006,. This will be done through improvement and show-cause notices to non-compliant establishments,” said Satyanarayana.
