Patanjali Ghee Fails Quality Test — Rs 1.40 Lakh Fine Imposed
A court in Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand has fined Patanjali Ayurved Ltd ₹ 1,00,000 after a sample of their cow-ghee failed quality tests at both a state-level lab (in Rudrapur) and a national lab (in Ghaziabad). The fine also extends to the distributor and retailer involved, who have been penalised ₹ 25,000 and ₹ 15,000 respectively — totalling ₹ 1.40 lakh.
What happened
The case goes back to 20 October 2020, when a food safety officer collected a sample of ghee from Karan General Store in the Kashani area of Pithoragarh. The bill identified the distributor as Brahma Agencies and the manufacturer as Patanjali Ayurved (registered in Ahmadnagar, Maharashtra). The sample underwent testing at the state food-and-drug laboratory in Rudrapur, which declared it unfit. A retest was sought; the national-level lab in Ghaziabad reconfirmed the sample did not meet prescribed standards under relevant food-safety norms.
After procedural delays (nearly five years), the Additional District Magistrate’s court delivered its verdict on 27 November 2025, penalising the manufacturer, distributor, and retailer under the country’s food-safety regulations. The court also issued a formal warning directing strict compliance by all parties with the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
Why It Matters
Officials from the Food Safety & Drug Administration’s Pithoragarh office stated that the ghee sample “failed multiple key parameters of purity and composition.” While no specific health complaints have been officially reported, authorities emphasised that such substandard ghee “cannot be deemed safe for human consumption.”
The case highlights continuing challenges in the dairy value chain — even from reputed large manufacturers — stressing the need for stronger regulatory oversight, consumer vigilance, and stricter lab-testing protocols.
Source : Dairynews7x7 Nov 30th 2025 Read full story here