The Food Safety Wing of Punjab’s Health Department has seized 3,540 kg of desi ghee and destroyed 675 kg of expired stock following a raid at a manufacturing unit in Kailash Nagar, Ludhiana, on Saturday. The inspection was carried out as part of an intensified drive against adulterated and substandard food items ahead of the upcoming festive season. Officials collected five samples of ghee and one sample of mustard oil from the premises, sending them to a government laboratory for quality and purity assessments.
Large Stock of Branded and Loose Ghee Confiscated
During the inspection of the Kailash Nagar facility, food safety teams uncovered a significant inventory of both packaged and loose dairy products. Out of the 3,540 kg seized, 135 kg consisted of branded desi ghee packaged under the names Sartaj, Dayal, and Dairy Farm, while the remaining 3,405 kg was found stored as loose ghee. Alongside the confiscation, authorities supervised the immediate destruction of 675 kg of expired desi ghee on site.
Inspecting officers also scrutinized the storage infrastructure, packaging standards, and product labels at the unit. Officials checked the printed expiry dates and assessed overall hygiene and storage compliance to determine if the operation met mandatory food safety regulations. While the stock has been detained, authorities stated that confirmation regarding whether the seized ghee is adulterated will depend entirely on the findings of laboratory tests.
Six Samples Sent for Government Laboratory Analysis
A total of six food samples, comprising five batches of ghee and one batch of mustard oil, were gathered directly from the facility and dispatched for formal laboratory evaluation. The chemical analysis will examine whether the products adhere to prescribed food safety parameters or if unauthorized substances were introduced during processing.
Health officials maintained that further administrative and legal proceedings against the establishment and responsible individuals would follow the receipt of the laboratory reports. The department highlighted that checking packaging integrity, accurate labeling, and proper product shelf life remains critical, as improperly handled or expired goods present direct risks to consumer health.
Surveillance Stepped Up Across District for Festive Rush
The enforcement drive comes in response to the annual surge in consumer demand for dairy products, sweets, edible oils, and ghee during festivals. Civil Surgeon Dr. Ramandeep Kaur stated that public health remains paramount and that heightened market demand often brings an increased risk of expired or adulterated goods entering circulation.
Dr. Kaur called on food business operators across the district to use quality raw materials, maintain truthful labeling, avoid marketing expired goods, and observe proper storage practices. The department confirmed that surprise inspections will continue across commercial establishments in Ludhiana to ensure compliance, with legal action under relevant food safety statutes to follow if laboratory findings confirm violations at the Kailash Nagar unit.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
