FDA to prohibit sale of ghee containing added matter not exclusively derived from milk fat

Chandigarh, November 15, 2019: The Commissionerate of Food and Drugs Administration Punjab has issued a public notice informing that the manufacture/sale/distribution of ghee containing any added matter not exclusively derived from milk fat and vanaspati to which ghee or any other substance has been added is to be prohibited in Punjab.
Sharing the information, KS Pannu, Commissioner FDA said that regulation 2.1.1(3) and 2.1.1(6) of Food Safety and Standards Regulations 2011 (Prohibition and Restrictions on Sales) provides for prohibition of such substances.
He said that there have been instances of admixture of other substances in ghee, milk fat and vanaspati/hydrogenated vegetable oil in the State of Punjab under various brand names being sold as proprietary food items or otherwise. Therefore, exercising the powers under section 30(2)(a) of the Food Safety & Standards Act, 2006, there is a proposal to completely prohibit the manufacture/sale/distribution of ghee, milk fat and vanaspati/hydrogenated vegetable fat to which any other substance has been added against the provisions of regulation 2.1.1, in the State of Punjab.
However, before the prohibitory orders are passed, a notice has been given to the general public and any other person dealing with manufacture/sale/distribution of such admixtures to file objections, if any, to the said proposal within a period of 15 days, said Pannu.
All Designated Food Safety Officers in the State have also been directed to share the information with the Food Business Operators, he informed.