Raman Suri expresses concern over adulterated ghee, paneer, seeks strict action to safeguard public health

JAMMU: Raman Suri, Executive Member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Jammu Kashmir today asked the government to immediately launch a comprehensive campaign to inspect and monitor food items, ensuring that the public is protected from substandard and adulterated products. He said, “Food Safety Officers must be deployed in full strength, and the Health and Medical Education Department should extend complete cooperation to the Food Safety Department so that no one can play with people’s lives.”

Raman Suri was referring to samples of Desi Ghee and Paneer which were found to be adulterated in recent days in Jammu and Kashmir. He expressed deep concern over the alarming revelation that several desi ghee samples produced by different companies have failed quality tests, exposing a grave threat to public health.

In the last three days alone, samples of desi ghee from six companies have failed laboratory tests conducted across the country, which confirmed adulteration with vegetable oil. Suri said that this shocking disclosure clearly demonstrates how some manufacturers are compromising people’s health for mere profits.

“It is extremely worrying that such adulterated desi ghee is being sold openly in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir. By the time the test results are made public, thousands of innocent people have already consumed it, endangering their health, especially that of children and youth,” Suri said. The BJP leader also revealed that along with desi ghee, several samples of paneer (cottage cheese) have failed the tests as well. These adulterated paneer samples, sourced from different states including Delhi and Punjab, were also found to contain vegetable oil instead of pure milk fat.

He further demanded strict legal and punitive action against all companies found guilty of adulteration. “Such acts are nothing short of a crime against society. Stern action will not only punish the offenders but also send a strong message to others that public health cannot be compromised at any cost,” he asserted.

He also appealed to consumers to remain alert, check labels, and report any suspicious or substandard food items to the concerned authorities so that collective efforts can be made to root out the menace of adulteration from society. “This continued failure of ghee samples is a wake-up call for all. It shows how companies are blatantly compromising the health of people, especially our children and youth, just to mint money. “This is not merely a regulatory lapse; it’s a betrayal of public trust. Those responsible must face the harshest possible penalties,” he asserted.