FSSAI Bans Ghee Sales by Daman Firm

DAMAN: The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has ordered an immediate ban on the sale of all variants of ghee manufactured, stored or sold by M/s SDP Industries Private Limited at Ringanwada, Daman, citing repeated food-safety violations.

The prohibition covers products sold under brands including SHRADDHA, SHREE SARAS and GOKUL, and will remain in force until further orders.

The action followed an enforcement inspection and sampling conducted on May 19, 2026. Laboratory tests detected β-sitosterol, a plant sterol that should be absent from ghee, along with non-conforming fatty-acid composition. According to FSSAI, the findings indicate the possible presence of foreign or vegetable fats.

“The issue could not reasonably be confined to a particular batch or product,” the food safety authority said, citing the repeated nature of the violations.

The regulator noted that earlier samples collected during 2024 and January 2026 had also failed critical parameters, including β-sitosterol, fatty-acid profile and other prescribed quality values.

The company had previously faced adjudication proceedings, including a penalty imposed in August 2023 for sub-standard ghee. A further offence under the Food Safety and Standards Act was also followed by a fine in October 2025.

The firm appealed against the latest laboratory findings, following which samples were examined by a Referral Food Laboratory. Reports received in August 2026 confirmed the non-conformities.

FSSAI said the prohibition has been imposed under Section 36(3)(b) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, as a preventive measure in the interest of public health and consumer safety.