Vadodara: In a major crackdown ahead of the Diwali festive season, the food safety department seized 8,136 kg of adulterated ghee, valued at approximately Rs 42 lakh, during a raid on a food manufacturing unit in Por GIDC on Sunday evening.The raid was conducted at Chaalisa Foods following a complaint and specific information provided by a citizen. Officials said the timely intervention prevented the adulterated ghee from being processed and packaged for distribution in the market during the festive season.The inspection was carried out by a team led by a designated officer of the food and drugs control administration (FDCA), in the presence of Maheshbhai Kantibhai Thesia, the person who was in charge of the unit.During the operation, officials seized 5,200kg of the adulterated ghee stored in tanks and awaiting packaging. The stock was valued at approximately Rs 26 lakh. An additional 2,936 kg of ghee, packed in various sizes and sold under different brand names, was also detained at the premises. This stock was valued at around Rs16 lakh.Officials collected four samples from the seized stock and sent them to a state govt-approved food laboratory for analysis. The entire stock was sealed and will remain under seal pending the laboratory reports.Authorities said further administrative and criminal action would be initiated in accordance with the law, depending on the findings of the laboratory analysis.The department also stated that inspections would be intensified during the festive season to curb the sale and distribution of adulterated food products to safeguard public health.
