Barnala: Food dept raids suspected adulterated Ghee unit, seals premises
Kamaljeet Sadhu
Barnala (Punjab), October 12, 2026: The Food Department raided a suspected unit allegedly involved in manufacturing adulterated desi ghee in Barnala on Monday and seized around 3–4 kg of freshly prepared ghee. The premises were sealed, and samples have been collected for laboratory testing.
The raid was conducted in Street No. 1 of Tara Colony, behind Lakhi Colony, by a team of the Food Department accompanied by police personnel and Ward No. 28 councillor Dharam Singh Fauji.
Food Safety Officer (FSO) Charanjit Singh said the department had received a tip-off that adulterated desi ghee was being prepared at the premises. When the team arrived, the premises were found locked.
According to the officer, family members of the person concerned reached the spot but said they did not have the keys and asked the team to break the locks. The premises were subsequently opened in the presence of the family members, Assistant Sub-Inspector Manjit Singh and the ward councillor.
During the inspection, officials found around 3–4 kg of freshly prepared desi ghee in a tub, along with empty cardboard boxes bearing the Parmanand ghee brand name. The boxes carried a manufacturing date of June 2026 and an address in Ludhiana.
Singh said samples had been collected and would be sent to a laboratory in Kharar for testing. Further action will be taken in accordance with the law after the laboratory report is received. The department will also investigate the recovered packaging material.
The officer identified Suresh Kumar as the person linked to the premises and said action had reportedly been taken against him earlier. According to Singh, desi ghee of different brands had previously been recovered from him near Tapa.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Manjit Singh said police personnel had accompanied the Food Department team after a request for security. Councillor Dharam Singh Fauji also confirmed that ghee and packaging material were recovered during the joint operation.
Officials clarified that the ghee has not yet been confirmed as adulterated. The laboratory report will determine the next course of action.