World · India Bureau
FDA Busts Counterfeit Ghee Operation Across Mumbai, Pune
Food and Drug Administration inspectors have uncovered a large-scale operation manufacturing fake ghee by blending oils and vanaspati, which was being sold under the brand name 'Pooja Ghee.' The facilities were found to have severe hygiene violations including rodent and insect infestations.
LSN India ·
Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration has cracked down on establishments in Mumbai and Pune engaged in the production of counterfeit ghee, marking a significant consumer protection operation in the region. Inspectors discovered that the manufacturers were blending vegetable oil, vanaspati, and branded ghee in large boilers to create fake ghee products subsequently packaged and sold under the 'Pooja Ghee' label.
The investigation revealed alarming sanitary conditions at the manufacturing sites, with inspectors documenting evidence of rat and cockroach infestations throughout the facilities. Such contamination poses serious health risks to consumers and represents a flagrant violation of food safety standards mandated under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
The counterfeit ghee operation capitalized on consumer demand for the dairy product while evading regulatory oversight through deceptive labeling practices. The use of lower-cost oils and vanaspati instead of pure ghee allowed the manufacturers to significantly undercut legitimate producers while misrepresenting their product to unsuspecting buyers.
The FDA's action underscores ongoing challenges in maintaining food safety standards across Maharashtra's food manufacturing sector. Authorities have intensified inspections of dairy and edible oil production facilities following similar operations uncovered in previous months, signaling a broader commitment to protecting consumer interests across the region.