Hyderabad City Police have intensified their efforts against the production and sale of adulterated ghee. On Tuesday, the Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team (H-FAST) and the Food Safety Department conducted coordinated inspections at 130 locations throughout the city. This crackdown aims to ensure food safety and protect consumers from harmful products.
Police cautioned consumers against suspiciously cheap or unbranded ghee and advised checking for intact seals, manufacturer details and a valid FSSAI licence. Acting on public tip-offs and intelligence inputs, enforcement teams inspected 39 ghee manufacturing units and 91 selling outlets, uncovering what police described as a large-scale operation to manufacture synthetic ghee using cheaper substitutes and unauthorised chemical additives. Police said around 36 tonnes of material was seized, including 25.5 tonnes of adulterated ghee, 8.7 tonnes of cream, 1,200 litres of palm oil, 600 litres of vanaspati, 30 kg of starch and artificial ghee flavouring agents. Police said the adulteration levels ranged from 10% to 40%, with the products allegedly being diverted to restaurants, tiffin centres, sweet manufacturers, bakeries, caterers, hotels and Ayurvedic shops.
Some stock was also allegedly marketed as pooja or “deepam” ghee. Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said strict enforcement would continue against those compromising public health.
