Srinagar, Sep 22: The Food Safety Department of Jammu and Kashmir has prohibited the sale, storage, distribution and display of four ghee brands across the Union Territory after laboratory tests raised concerns over their safety and quality.

The order was issued by Commissioner Food Safety J&K Khalid Jahangir under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

According to the department, samples of different ghee products were collected by Food Safety Officers from Anantnag, Jammu, Kathua, Samba and Pulwama. The samples were subsequently tested at the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad and the Food Testing Laboratory in Srinagar.

The laboratory reports classified the concerned products as unsafe, sub-standard and misbranded. The tests reportedly detected the presence of vegetable and foreign fats, along with deviations from prescribed food safety parameters.

The products covered by the prohibitory order include Cow Ghee Milk Bite, manufactured by Mahadev Industries, Rajasthan, Pehalwan Desi Ghee by Comfy Agro Pvt Ltd, Punjab, Swift Desi Ghee by Suneja Food Products, Hisar, and Sangath Desi Ghee by Akshar Dairy Product, Ahmedabad.

The department has directed food business operators, manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers to immediately stop the sale, storage and display of the affected products.

Businesses holding the products have also been instructed to segregate the stock and keep it in safe custody. They have been asked to submit details of the available stock to the concerned Designated Officer within 48 hours.

Food safety officials have been directed to ensure compliance with the order and carry out inspections across the supply chain. Violations of the order may invite action under the Food Safety and Standards Act.

The department said the prohibition has been imposed as a precautionary measure in the public interest. The concerned food business operators, however, have the option of seeking re-analysis of the samples through an FSSAI-notified Referral Laboratory.