Financial Express: Haryana: Wednesday,
April 19, 2017.
Certain
products of milk brands like Amul, Mother Dairy, Patanjali, and Paras have been
found to be ‘substandard’ by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Haryana.
Even clarified butter (ghee) sold under these brands has been dubbed as not up
to the mark. These major and leading brands have failed the quality test
conducted by FDA last year during April and December, reports Indian Express.
The findings
came via replies to various applications filed with Haryana FDA under the Right
to Information (RTI) Act, 2005. From FDA the applications were transferred to its
food laboratory and other district-level offices. Under the RTI, when asked
from the state food laboratory about what action they have taken against these
companies, they were told that it is “not related to this office.” Here are the
details about the products involved:
Gujarat
Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation Ltd’s (GCMMF Ltd) Amul ghee
The October
2016 report states that after the investigation by state food laboratory of FDA
Haryana, it was found that “Amul ghee” is “misbranded, substandard and unsafe.”
In four other probe reports by the same laboratory of FDA, it was found that
“Amul ghee” is “substandard and unsafe”.
While talking
to The Indian Express, R S Sodhi, managing director, GCMMF Ltd, said :“We would
like to inform you that we do not have any information regarding the Amul Ghee
samples lifted by Food Safety Authorities of Haryana State in the month of
October 2016 as mentioned in your message. Moreover, no such Food Analyst
reports (probe reports) were received with the information that the samples of
ghee lifted were “Mis-Branded, Sub-Standard and Unsafe” from FDA authorities of
Haryana state in the month of October-2016 to date.”
Mother
Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Private Ltd’s butter and ghee
In the
investigation report of July 2016, the state food laboratory of FDA Haryana
found “cream of Mother Dairy” to be “misbranded.” Again, on further
investigation, the two different probe reports of October 2016, the same
laboratory of FDA Haryana found “ghee of Mother Dairy” to be “misbranded,
substandard and unsafe”. A Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Private Limited
spokesperson told Indian Express that “We wish to clarify that we had received
a report from the authorities citing misbranding of one of our products cream.
It was due to an error in printing of the ‘Best Before’ date which was
mentioned in small alphabets as against the required capital letters. The same
was rectified post receiving the report. Additionally, we would also like to
clarify that we are not aware of any such findings with respect to the tests
conducted for ghee. We would like to reiterate that all our products maintain
the highest standards of quality and safety by ensuring strict adherence to
protocols such as Food Safety and Standard norms.”
Patanjali
Ayurved Ltd’s cow ghee
In the
investigation report of October 2016, “Patanjali cow ghee” was found to be
“substandard and unsafe”. The quality test was performed by the state food
laboratory of FDA Haryana.
VRS Foods
Ltd’s Paras ghee
In three
different investigation reports of October 2016, “Paras ghee” was found to be
“substandard and unsafe”. The quality test was performed by the state food
laboratory of FDA Haryana.
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