Hyderabad Officials Seize 36 Tonnes of Adulterated Ghee Across 130 Units

The Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST), in coordination with the Food Safety Department, inspected 130 establishments across Hyderabad and seized approximately 36 tonnes of suspected adulterated ghee and raw materials.

The citywide operation covered 39 manufacturing units and 91 ghee-selling retail outlets. The seized stock included 25.5 tonnes of adulterated ghee, 8.7 tonnes of cream, 1,200 litres of palm oil, 600 litres of vanaspati, and bottles of artificial ghee flavouring. Samples were collected for laboratory analysis, and the materials were transferred to food safety authorities for legal action.

According to officials, the inspections exposed large-scale manufacturing of synthetic ghee using cheaper substitutes such as palm oil, vanaspati, skimmed milk powder, and chemical flavouring agents. The counterfeit products were packaged and sold as genuine products under labels including "100% Pure Ghee," "Premium Ghee," "Farm Fresh Ghee," and "Natural Ghee."

City Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar stated that manufacturers used multiple techniques to replicate the aroma, taste, and appearance of genuine ghee. In one method, milk solids were mixed directly with palm oil, vanaspati, and artificial flavours. In another method, skimmed milk powder containing no milk fat was blended with palm oil, vanaspati, starch, and artificial flavours.

Investigators found that the level of adulteration ranged between 10 per cent and 40 per cent. The adulterated ghee was supplied to restaurants, tiffin centres, sweet manufacturers, Ayurveda stores, and sold for use as deepam or pooja ghee. Several inspected packages completely lacked mandatory details such as FSSAI licence numbers, batch numbers, manufacturing dates, expiry dates, and certificates of analysis.

Authorities noted that the cream used in the manufacturing units was sourced from suppliers across Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. The finished adulterated products were then distributed across Telangana and neighbouring states.

Health officials cautioned that consuming adulterated ghee containing refined palm oil, palmolein, and chemical additives increases the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, digestive complications, and strain on the liver and kidneys. Consumers have been urged to buy dairy products exclusively from licensed vendors and to verify FSSAI credentials and packaging seals.

Citizens can report suspected food adulteration to the authorities via Dial 112 or the H-FAST helpline at 8712661212.