1,650kg of spurious butter seized , one person arrested
RAID 200kg chemical adulterant, 5,000lt palm oil also seized from Model Town store
AMRITSAR: The district food safety team seized over 1,650kg of adulterated butter, along with other adulterants, and one person was arrested from a food store at Model Town in Chheharta, here on Tuesday.
The food safety team led by district health officer (DHO) Dr Lakhbir Singh Bhagowalia along with the city police, raided the food store and discovered that a person was making spurious ghee and butter and packing it in boxes with their brand labelling ‘Dairy Shine’.
“Dairy Shine is a food manufacturing unit in Tarn Taran district which sells desi ghee and butter,” said the DHO, adding: “As many as 1,650kg of spurious butter have been seized by the food department. Along with it, over 1 lakh empty boxes of adulterated desi ghee (1kg, 500gm and 200gm packages), adulterants— 200kg butyro refractometer (BR) and 5,000 litre palm oil— have also been seized from the store.”
He said, “On Monday, the city police had set up a naka near Guru Nanak Dev University on GT Road. While checking a truck (from Delhi) on suspicion, it was found that the truck was full of adulterants – BR and Iris palm oil. The truck was to deliver the adulterants to the store. As per the information of the driver, the food safety team raided the food store on the intervening night of January 14-15.”
During the raid, which lasted for nearly four hours, it was found that the store owner, Kulbir Singh, was busy making spurious desi ghee and butter using adulterants — BR and iris palm oil. It was also discovered that the accused was selling the spurious ghee after labelling it with a local renowned brand. “The company is a renowned food manufacturing unit in Tarn Taran district. However, it is confirmed that the food store Kulbir, and his two brothers are the owners of Dairy Shine who were selling adulterated dairy products,” said the health officer.
“Six samples of butter, desi ghee, BR and iris palm oil were collected from the store and have been sent to the food test laboratory in Kharar (Mohali) for testing. The BR is a wax like adulterant, which is used to increase the fat content in milk products, it is very harmful chemical for health,”he added.
Sukhwinder Singh, investigating officer, who also accompanied the food safety team during the raid said, “The accused Kulbir Singh has been arrested and a case has been registered against him at Islamabad Nagar police station under Sections 272 (adulteration of food or drink intended for sale), 273 (sale of noxious food or drink) and 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) of IPC. The two brothers of accused are still absconding. Efforts are on to nab them.”