Daijiworld Media Network - Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) on Sunday prohibited the sale, storage, distribution and display of 10 identified brands and batches of ghee across the Union Territory after laboratory tests found the products to be sub-standard, unsafe and misbranded.

The action was taken under the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, following laboratory examination of samples by the Notified Food Analyst at the National Food Laboratory, Ghaziabad, and the Food Testing Laboratory at Kashmir.

The prohibited products include Dairy Mohan, Apna Dairy Milk, Milk Bite, Nandni, Shahi Taj, Daawat Fresh, Nand Krishna, Vandu, Dairy Milk and Mohan Dairy.

The affected batches were detected in samples collected from various parts of Jammu and Kashmir, including Anantnag, Shangus, Larnoo, Bijbehara, Samba, Kathua, Jammu, Tral and Pampore.

The non-conforming products identified by the FDA 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) and Mohan Dairy Ghee (Batch No. 6).

Laboratory findings in the affected samples included the presence of beta-sitosterol/foreign vegetable fat, a positive Baudouin test, abnormal fatty-acid profiles and deviations from prescribed physicochemical parameters.

The FDA has directed all food business operators (FBOs), wholesalers, distributors and retailers to immediately stop the sale and distribution of the affected batches and ensure that the products do not remain in circulation.

The concerned FBOs have also been directed to declare the stock position of the affected batches to the respective Designated Officer within 48 hours.

Enforcement authorities have been instructed to maintain strict vigil and take necessary action to prevent further circulation of the prohibited food articles.

The administration reiterated that under applicable food safety standards, ghee must be derived exclusively from milk or milk products. Ghee containing any added matter not exclusively derived from milk fat is not permitted for sale.

The prohibition has been imposed with immediate effect across Jammu and Kashmir in the interest of public health and consumer safety.

The FDA has appealed to consumers to remain vigilant and check the brand, batch number and date of packing while purchasing ghee.

Consumers and retailers have also been advised to immediately report the sale or availability of any of the prohibited batches to the concerned Food Safety authorities.

The prohibitory action is a precautionary measure in the public interest and does not affect the statutory right of the concerned Food Business Operators to seek re-analysis through an FSSAI-notified Referral Laboratory, in accordance with the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules framed thereunder.