THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Food Safety Department has identified three brands that produce and sell contaminated ghee in Kerala. The brands found guilty of adulteration are Choice, Menma and SRS. These brands were detected selling ghee mixed with harmful substances, prompting the Food Safety Department to take action.

The Food Safety Commission has prohibited the storage and sale of these three ghee brands. According to officials, samples of these ghee brands collected from the market were tested and found to be of substandard quality. The affected brands are manufactured by Choice Herbals, located in Chappathinkara, Amboori, Thiruvananthapuram.

Investigations showed that these brands' labels claimed "ghee," but the ingredient list included a mixture of ghee, vegetable oil, and vanaspati. Only pure ghee can be sold under the name 'ghee.' Mixtures containing other oil fractions don't qualify as ghee. The sale and use of such products are prohibited as per the provisions of the Food Safety Quality Regulations. This prompted the Commission to take action against the three brands under various sections of the Food Safety Act.

A litre of quality ghee from leading brands costs above Rs 600, whereas vegetable oil costs roughly one-fourth of that. The Food Safety Department stated that it will examine other brands' ghee to detect potential adulteration.