New Delhi: Patanjali Ayurved Limited has been slapped with a total fine of ₹1.4 lakh after its cow ghee failed food safety tests, raising concerns over product quality and consumer health. Two separate laboratory tests confirmed that the ghee did not meet the required safety standards.
Sample Fails Initial Testing
The issue dates back to 2020, when a routine inspection at Karan General Store in Kasni, Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, collected a sample of Patanjali cow ghee. The sample was first tested at Rudrapur lab, where officials found it substandard and potentially harmful for consumption.
Second Test Confirms Concerns
Following the initial findings, Patanjali was issued a notice in 2021 but failed to respond. Subsequently, the company requested a retest at a central lab, paying ₹5,000 for the process. On 16 October 2021, the sample was sent to the National Food Lab in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and the results, released on 26 November 2021, again confirmed the ghee failed food safety standards.
Court Verdict and Penalty
After reviewing the evidence for nearly two months, the case was presented in court on 17 February 2022. The Adjudicating Officer/Additional District Magistrate, Yogendra Singh, imposed a fine of:
- ₹1,00,000 on Patanjali Ayurved Limited
- ₹25,000 on distributor Brahma Agency
- ₹15,000 on Karan General Store, where the sample was collected
Food safety officer Dilip Jain presented all relevant evidence before the court.
This verdict underscores the importance of stringent quality checks for FMCG products, especially those like ghee that are widely consumed and trusted by the public.
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