Traders given 15 days to halt sale of loose edible oil

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Food Adulteration Surveillance Team has intensified its efforts against food adulteration by focusing on awareness and legal compliance. The team recently conducted a comprehensive awareness meeting with oil manufacturers, suppliers, and associated stakeholders to streamline industry standards. During the meeting, Gaikwad Vaibhav Raghunath, DCP Commissioner’s Task Force and In-charge of H-FAST, emphasised the vital importance of strict adherence to food safety norms and legal standards in the manufacture and sale of edible oils. All oil associates were clearly instructed not to sell loose or unbranded oil under any circumstances, as it poses serious health risks to the public and violates existing food safety regulations.

Key points discussed included a total prohibition on the sale of loose edible oil and the mandatory requirement to sell only properly packaged and sealed products.

The DCP explained the necessity of proper branding, labelling, and compliance with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India guidelines. This includes the mandatory inclusion of details such as manufacturing date, expiry date, batch number, FSSAI licence number, and the specific grade of edible oil on all packaging. Furthermore, the adoption of hygienic practices during processing, storage, and transportation was highlighted as a priority.

DCP Vaibhav Raghunath asked stakeholders to ensure that no adulteration or mixing of inferior, recycled, or harmful substances takes place. He explained the severe legal consequences of violations, including strict penal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Stakeholders were advised to maintain transparency and prioritise public health over profit.

A fifteen-day grace period has been granted to ensure full compliance, failing which stringent legal action will be initiated. The police also advised the public to purchase only branded, sealed products from authorised sellers and encouraged consumers to report any suspected illegal sales to the authorities. This proactive measure reflects the commitment of the department to ensuring that the kitchen essentials used by every household remain safe and pure for consumption.

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