News Trust of India: On the orders of Uttarakhand’s Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Health Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, a large-scale campaign has begun to combat adulteration in desi ghee, butter, and sweets. Initiated by the state’s Food Safety and Drug Controller Department, the campaign spans all districts, with health officers collecting samples from both urban and rural areas.
Dr. R Rajesh Kumar, Health Secretary and Food Commissioner, emphasized that anyone caught selling adulterated ghee and butter will face severe consequences. In a related move, the Union Health Ministry has directed all states to gather samples of sweets like laddus and thoroughly test the quality of ghee in the market.
Samples Collected from Leading Brands
Food Department Additional Commissioner Tajbar Jaggi confirmed that multiple samples of ghee and butter from well-known companies have been gathered. The initiative covers inspections at sweet shops and other establishments selling desi ghee and butter across the state. Once test results are available, appropriate legal measures will follow. Senior food safety officers, along with district-level teams, are overseeing these inspections, ensuring that manufacturing and distribution units in the state are thoroughly examined.
Dehradun Sees Extensive Raids
In Dehradun, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner RS Rawat, teams conducted intensive raids, not only in urban areas but also in rural regions such as Herbertpur, Sahaspur, and Sudhowala. Several samples were sent to laboratories for testing, and the raiding team included Senior Food Safety Officers like Ramesh Singh and Santosh Singh, along with district officers.
Kumaon Division Mobilizes Against Adulteration
In the Kumaon division, Deputy Commissioner Anoj Kumar Thapliyal led a similar campaign targeting large ghee wholesalers in Haldwani. Brands such as Paras, Pehelwan, and Mother Dairy were sampled, and a Nova skimmed milk powder sample was also collected. All samples have been sent for testing, and action will be taken based on the findings. The campaign, which aims to eradicate adulterated products from the market, will continue in Haldwani and beyond.
