High court flags low essential oil in mustard oil samples, seeks FSSAI probe on adulteration

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (Fssai) to determine whether a significant deviation in natural essential oil content in mustard oil samples constitutes adulteration warranting legal action.
A division bench comprising chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sumeet Goel ordered Fssai's director of enforcement to analyse a Jan 3 report from Nagpur's Central AGMARK Laboratory for clarity on whether the variation in natural essential oil percentage qualifies as adulteration under the Food Safety and Standards Act. In Dec last year, mustard oil samples were sent to the Nagpur laborator after authorities found that adequate testing facilities were unavailable in the region.
When the case was heard on Thursday, the Jan 3 analytical report for three mustard oil samples was presented before the court. Ashish Mukherjee, director of laboratories at Faridabad, attended the hearing and provided the court with explanations regarding the findings.
The bench noted that while other parameters in the report appeared within permissible limits, the natural essential oil content was far below the acceptable standards for grade I and II mustard oils. Consequently, the court directed the aurhorities concerned to foward the report, along with the order, to Fssai's director of enforcement for further assessment. The next hearing is on April 30.
The case stems from the court's initiative of Oct last year when it took cognizance of widespread complaints regarding adulteration in mustard oil. The high court instructed the registrar general to collect samples from three popular brands and send those for testing. Initially, the samples were analysed at the Regional AGMARK Laboratory in Amritsar, but due to the facility's limitations in testing for adulterants, those were then forwarded to Nagpur.
The decision to investigate mustard oil quality follows numerous consumer complaints alleging that mustard oil was being blended with other oils, raising concerns about food safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
MSID:: 118627476 413 |
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (Fssai) to determine whether a significant deviation in natural essential oil content in mustard oil samples constitutes adulteration warranting legal action.
A division bench comprising chief justice Sheel Nagu and justice Sumeet Goel ordered Fssai's director of enforcement to analyse a Jan 3 report from Nagpur's Central AGMARK Laboratory for clarity on whether the variation in natural essential oil percentage qualifies as adulteration under the Food Safety and Standards Act. In Dec last year, mustard oil samples were sent to the Nagpur laborator after authorities found that adequate testing facilities were unavailable in the region.
When the case was heard on Thursday, the Jan 3 analytical report for three mustard oil samples was presented before the court. Ashish Mukherjee, director of laboratories at Faridabad, attended the hearing and provided the court with explanations regarding the findings.
The bench noted that while other parameters in the report appeared within permissible limits, the natural essential oil content was far below the acceptable standards for grade I and II mustard oils. Consequently, the court directed the aurhorities concerned to foward the report, along with the order, to Fssai's director of enforcement for further assessment. The next hearing is on April 30.
The case stems from the court's initiative of Oct last year when it took cognizance of widespread complaints regarding adulteration in mustard oil. The high court instructed the registrar general to collect samples from three popular brands and send those for testing. Initially, the samples were analysed at the Regional AGMARK Laboratory in Amritsar, but due to the facility's limitations in testing for adulterants, those were then forwarded to Nagpur.
The decision to investigate mustard oil quality follows numerous consumer complaints alleging that mustard oil was being blended with other oils, raising concerns about food safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
MSID:: 118627476 413 |