Over 39,000 kg of suspected adulterated ghee destroyed in Gujarat, food items worth ₹5.89 crore seized

Gujarat's food safety authorities have destroyed more than 2.12 lakh kg/litres of food products, including nearly 40,000 kg of suspected adulterated ghee, during a statewide enforcement drive against substandard and unsafe food items.

According to official figures, a total of 39,787 kg of ghee, 1.67 lakh litres/kg of edible oil, 674.50 kg of milk and milk products, and 5,229 kg of paneer were seized and destroyed during inspections carried out across multiple districts.

The combined value of the confiscated food products is estimated at more than ₹5.89 crore.

Officials said the action was undertaken as part of a large-scale food safety campaign conducted in districts including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Rajkot, Mehsana, Banaskantha, Patan, Navsari, Valsad, Dahod, Kutch, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Surendranagar, Panchmahal, and Vadodara.

According to the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA), the destroyed products included ghee worth approximately ₹2.39 crore, edible oil worth ₹3.35 crore, milk and milk products valued at ₹47,250, and paneer worth ₹15.69 lakh.

Authorities said investigations were carried out against food products collectively valued at more than ₹5.89 crore during the drive.

The food safety department said the state government would maintain a zero-tolerance approach towards adulterated, substandard and non-compliant food products.

Officials stated that regular sampling, inspections and enforcement operations would be intensified across the state to ensure compliance with food safety regulations.

Food safety experts welcomed the crackdown but stressed that periodic drives alone would not be sufficient to curb food adulteration. They said continuous monitoring and routine inspections are essential to safeguard public health.

Experts also warned that consumption of adulterated ghee and edible oils could pose serious health risks, including cardiovascular problems, digestive disorders, liver-related complications and poor nutrition, particularly among children and elderly people.

Authorities have urged consumers to purchase products from trusted brands and verify quality certifications, including FSSAI licence numbers and AGMARK certification, before making purchases.