Ludhiana, Oct 7 — Intensifying its drive against adulterated food ahead of the festive season, the district health department on Monday seized around 50 kg of adulterated desi ghee during a raid in the Sham Nagar area.
Acting on a tip-off, the food safety team uncovered a small-scale operation being run from a residential house where cream and milk powder were used to manufacture poor-quality ghee. The team confiscated the adulterated material and began a detailed probe into the racket.
Preliminary investigation indicated that those involved had a history of similar offences. Officials noted that the accused were previously booked under the Food Safety and Standards Act in 2017 and 2020, and were declared absconders by a court in 2023.
With the support of the bus stand police post team, one woman linked to the illegal operation was taken into custody. Samples of ghee, cream, and milk powder collected from the site have been sent to a laboratory for testing. “Once the reports are received, strict action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act,” officials said.
Civil Surgeon Dr. Ramandeep Kaur said that the use of adulterated ghee, cream, and other substandard materials in food items poses serious health risks, especially during the festive season. “Such illegal activities not only endanger public health but also put an additional burden on the healthcare system,” she mentioned, adding that both the food safety department and police have adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward such offences.
Dr. Kaur appealed to the public to buy sweets, ghee, and other food products only from licensed and reputed shops. “People should always check the quality, standards, and packaging before making purchases. Any suspicious activity must be reported to the food safety officials,” she added.
The raid came just a day after authorities seized 189 kg of adulterated paneer that was being supplied to fast-food joints across Ludhiana, signalling a wider crackdown on unsafe food production.
‘Prepare sweets at home,’ say experts
In a related initiative, about 40 farm women members of the PAU Kisan Club attended a training session focused on making nutritious, home-made sweets. The camp was conducted under the guidance of Dr. M.S. Bhullar, director of extension education.
Food science expert Arshdeep Singh encouraged people to avoid market sweets during the festive season. “Rather than purchasing adulterated sweets, people should prepare these at home using fresh ingredients,” he said.
Experts Dr. Sonika Sharma and Dr. Shikha Mahajan demonstrated healthy recipes including coconut ladoos, dry fruit rolls, and coconut rolls, stressing that home-made alternatives not only ensure purity but also promote healthier eating habits.
