Lab Tests Reveal Adulterated Products Containing Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has uncovered a major interstate counterfeit ghee operation, seizing more than 6,500 litres of suspected adulterated ghee and associated raw materials during coordinated enforcement raids in Delhi and Haryana. The action is part of the regulator’s ongoing efforts to curb food adulteration and protect consumer health.
According to FSSAI, the investigation began after officials identified suspicious digital and print advertisements promoting premium cow ghee products without mandatory licensing and labeling details. To verify the authenticity of the products, authorities conducted a decoy operation, purchasing samples that were subsequently sent to an NABL-accredited laboratory for testing.
Laboratory analysis revealed that the samples failed to meet prescribed food safety standards for ghee and contained a mixture of vegetable oils, animal fats, and other non-dairy constituents rather than pure milk fat. The findings prompted a wider investigation into the manufacturing and distribution network behind the products.
Based on the laboratory results, FSSAI teams traced the supply chain and conducted simultaneous raids on multiple locations. In Delhi’s Dwarka area, officials recovered approximately 1,500 litres of suspected adulterated ghee along with more than 1,000 litres of unidentified oil believed to be used in the manufacturing process. A separate operation in Sonipat, Haryana, led to the seizure of over 4,000 litres of suspected counterfeit ghee prepared for commercial distribution.
The enforcement operations were carried out by Central Food Safety Officers under the supervision of FSSAI’s Northern Regional Office in coordination with local law enforcement agencies. Officials stated that the seized products have been placed under regulatory custody while further investigations continue. An FIR has been registered, and authorities are working to identify the full extent of the network and its distribution channels.
The crackdown highlights FSSAI’s increasing focus on tackling food fraud and ensuring compliance with food safety regulations. The regulator has urged consumers to purchase food products only from trusted and licensed sources and to verify packaging details before making purchases.