Ban on selling fatty substance made for worship as 'ghee'

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control has banned the production, storage and sale of fatty substances made for puja, homa, havan and lighting lamps under the name of ghee.

In a public notice issued on Monday, the department said such substances cannot be sent to market labeled as edible ghee or 'puja ghee.'

Based on market monitoring and consumer complaints, the department said some producers were found making worship items by mixing paraffin, mineral oil, refined oil, vegetable ghee, bakery shortening and chemicals. It noted that because the color, smell, appearance and packaging resemble genuine ghee, consumers risk being misled into using it for cooking.

The department has therefore directed producers holding food industry licenses not to produce or sell such substances. According to the notice, when such substances are sold for worship or lighting lamps, the label must prominently display 'Not for food' in large letters along with a black cross mark. Such labels may not use the words ghee, vegetable ghee, or bakery shortening.

The department said the decision was made to prevent adulteration and mislabeling between food and non-food items. It has warned that producers and businesses who fail to comply will face action.