Ahead of Chhath, Patna seizes Rs 18 lakh worth of expired ghee meant for recycling

Patna food safety officials raided Rakesh Masala Company and seized ghee valued at around Rs 18 lakh. The action followed suspicions that expired stock was being processed for resale during Chhath.

In Short

• Food safety team raids Rakesh Masala Company in Patna.
• Ghee worth Rs 18 lakh seized for suspected expiry recycling.
• Expired ghee allegedly prepared for Chhath festival sale.

Food safety officials in Patna have seized ghee worth around Rs 18 lakh following a raid on a company suspected of preparing to recycle expired ghee and sell it in the market ahead of the Chhath festival.

Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Patna Food and Safety Department raided Rakesh Masala Company at Damrahi Ghat in the Malsalami police station area of Patna City.

During the raid, officials recovered and seized a large quantity of ghee. According to the department, there was a suspicion that expired ghee was being processed to make it reusable and sold in the market during the Chhath festival.

The team seized the stock, valued at approximately Rs 18 lakh, before it could allegedly be put back on the market.

Chhath, one of Bihar's most significant festivals, places particular emphasis on purity and cleanliness, including in the preparation of offerings. The alleged attempt to recycle expired food products and sell them again has raised concerns over food safety and the health of consumers during the festival.

- Ends
With inputs from Sujeet Kumar