Buying Amul ghee? Here’s how to identify a fake one

Amid the festive season, Indian dairy giant Amul discovered fake ghee being sold under Amul’s name. The milk company has issued a public advisory cautioning consumers about counterfeit Amul ghee being sold in the market, the company informed via X.

The company has uncovered that some dishonest agents are distributing fake ghee in the market, particularly in one-litre refill packs, which Amul has not produced in over three years.

“Amul has stopped manufacturing its 1 litre refill ghee pack for more than 3 years and has switched over to the Duplication Proof carton pack,” the advisory states. According to the advisory, this new packaging utilises highly sophisticated aseptic filling technology at Amul’s ISO-certified dairies, ensuring top-notch quality standards.

Amul advises customers to thoroughly check the packaging before making a purchase to ensure they are obtaining genuine products. The company also encourages consumers to reach out to Amul's toll-free number, 1800 258 3333, for any questions or concerns.

Last month, amid claims of animal fat being used in the preparation of Tirupati laddoos, Amul clarified that it has never supplied ghee to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). This clarification came in response to various social media claims suggesting that Amul ghee was utilised by the temple.

"This is in reference to some social media posts mentioning that Amul Ghee was being supplied to Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD). We wish to inform that we have never supplied Amul Ghee to TTD," Amul explained via X. The company further informed that Amul Ghee is made from high-quality milk fat at ISO-certified facilities, complying with rigorous quality checks including adulteration as set by FSSAI.

AR Dairy, based in Tamil Nadu and known for supplying ghee to the Tirupati Lord Balaji temple, confirmed last month that its product samples have been duly certified for quality by the appropriate authorities. The Dindigul-based company specified that they only provided ghee to the Tirumala temple in June and July, ensuring that each batch was accompanied by verified lab reports.

The controversy emerged when Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu accused the previous government, led by Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, of using animal fat and substandard ingredients in the laddoos. He made this assertion during an NDA legislative party meeting last month, where he emphasised that the former YSRCP government compromised the integrity of Sri Venkateswara Swamy temple by using inferior ingredients in the preparation of the renowned laddu, celebrated for its flavour.

The controversy intensified when the TTD, which oversees the affluent temple, backed Naidu's allegations concerning the inclusion of animal fat in the ‘prasadam.’ In response, Jagan Mohan Reddy dismissed these accusations as politically motivated attempts to divert attention from growing public discontent with Naidu's government.

The TTD executive officer addressed the matter by stating that all four reports of the samples had yielded similar results. Consequently, they halted the receipt of supplies and initiated the process to blacklist the contractor, along with starting procedures to impose penalties.