Gujarat's Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) on Saturday seized suspected adulterated ghee and edible oils valued at more than ₹35 lakh during raids in Surat and Deesa, officials said. The action follows instructions from the state Health Minister to step up enforcement against food adulteration.
Details of the seizures
In Surat, the FDCA team inspected a manufacturing unit identified as Keval Food Product located in the Hindva Dream Industrial Estate at Stad Pardi in Kamrej taluka. Officials found the unit operating without a valid licence and alleged that it was producing and repacking ghee under the brand name Shri Anmol Ratan Cow Ghee.
From that premises, officials seized:
- 5,157 litres of ghee (estimated value ₹26.12 lakh);
- 1,485 kg of palmolein oil (estimated value ₹3.63 lakh); and
- 285 kg of soybean oil which, the FDCA said, was kept for use in adulteration.
Legal samples of the seized products were collected and sent for laboratory testing under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, the FDCA said.
Action in Deesa
Separately, the Palanpur Circle team of the FDCA carried out inspections at various establishments in Deesa. There, officials seized 987 litres of ghee suspected to be adulterated, with an estimated value of ₹6.22 lakh. Samples from these seizures were also collected and forwarded to testing laboratories.
| Location | Item | Quantity | Estimated value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surat (Keval Food Product) | Ghee | 5,157 litres | ₹26.12 lakh |
| Surat (Keval Food Product) | Palmolein oil | 1,485 kg | ₹3.63 lakh |
| Surat (Keval Food Product) | Soybean oil | 285 kg | Not valued separately |
| Deesa (Palanpur Circle inspections) | Ghee | 987 litres | ₹6.22 lakh |
Regulatory follow-up and warnings
The FDCA said the Surat unit's exterior was locked at the time of inspection but alleged production and packing activities were being carried out inside. The authority has taken legal samples in all cases and will initiate prosecution or other action based on laboratory findings.
"No person or business establishment found compromising the health of citizens through food adulteration would be spared. The campaign against adulteration in food products would be made stricter in the coming days," Health Minister Praful Pansheriya said, according to officials.
The seizures form part of ongoing enforcement efforts by state authorities targeting both finished food products and oils believed to be used for adulteration. The FDCA routinely inspects manufacturing and packing units for compliance with licence requirements, hygienic conditions and product labelling standards set out in the Food Safety and Standards Act.
Consumer impact and next steps
Officials said the samples collected will be subjected to laboratory analysis to determine whether the products violate food-safety standards, including tests for fat purity, presence of foreign oils and proper labelling. Based on those reports, the FDCA can initiate prosecution, recall goods, impose fines or undertake other corrective measures.
For consumers, authorities advise buying branded edible oils and dairy fats from authorised dealers, checking packaging for proper labelling and licence details, and reporting suspected adulteration to local food-safety authorities. The FDCA has not yet named any accused individuals or firms beyond the trade name used on the seized ghee packaging.
The department said further legal action will follow the laboratory reports and that the intensified campaign against adulteration will continue across the state.
