A dairy parlour in Ahmedabad’s Chenpur area has been sealed after laboratory testing found that ghee sold as “pure” contained vegetable fat. The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) took action against the outlet as part of a wider food safety inspection drive on September 22, during which four food businesses were sealed for violations involving adulteration, hygiene, cooking oil and expired food products.
AMC sealed Shreeji Dairy Parlour after laboratory results confirmed the presence of vegetable fat in ghee being marketed as pure. According to the civic authority, selling an adulterated food product under a false description violates food safety requirements and can mislead consumers about the nature and quality of the product they are purchasing.
The action highlights the importance of laboratory testing in identifying food adulteration that may not be immediately visible during routine inspections. Ghee is commonly sold on the basis of its purity, and consumers generally rely on product descriptions and labels when making purchasing decisions.
Four food businesses face action
The AMC’s inspection drive resulted in action against four establishments across Ahmedabad. The violations identified by officials covered different aspects of food safety and hygiene.
| Establishment | Location | Violation / Finding | Action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shreeji Dairy Parlour | Chenpur | Ghee sold as pure contained vegetable fat | Sealed |
| Majlis Restaurant | Juhapura | Unhygienic kitchen and food preparation conditions | Sealed |
| Rajasthan Dalwada Centre | Isanpur | Used cooking oil had TPC of 32.1% | Sealed |
| Shantinath Jain Gruh Udyog | Ranip | Expired food products found | Sealed |
At Majlis Restaurant in Juhapura, inspectors found kitchen conditions that were considered unhygienic and unsuitable for food preparation. The establishment was found to be in violation of hygiene and sanitation requirements under Schedule 4 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations.
Used cooking oil exceeds safety limit
The AMC also sealed Rajasthan Dalwada Centre in Isanpur after laboratory analysis of reused cooking oil showed total polar compounds (TPC) at 32.1%.
FSSAI’s prescribed limit for TPC in used cooking oil is 25%. When the concentration exceeds the permitted level, the oil is not allowed to be used for food preparation.
The finding demonstrates another area of food safety enforcement, particularly for food businesses that repeatedly use cooking oil. Monitoring the quality of reused oil is important because repeated heating can alter its chemical composition.
Expired products found
Another establishment, Shantinath Jain Gruh Udyog in Ranip, was sealed after AMC received complaints alleging that expired food products were being sold. During an inspection, officials confirmed the presence of expired items at the premises.
AMC reiterated that food business operators are required to comply with regulations covering food safety, hygiene, product shelf life and expiry dates.
The combined enforcement action reflects the range of issues that food safety authorities monitor, from product adulteration and misleading descriptions to kitchen hygiene, cooking oil quality and expired food.
For consumers, the case also underlines the importance of checking product labels, expiry information and the credibility of food businesses. Meanwhile, regulatory inspections and laboratory testing remain important tools for identifying violations and ensuring that food sold to the public meets applicable safety and quality requirements.
