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In an article published on the FSSAI website, an official confirmed that laboratory tests had conclusively proved that the coconut oil products had been adulterated.“[FSSAI has] banned the production, procurement and distribution of these 14 coconut oil brands, [and] these will face strict action,” she said. Amongst the brands named as offenders were Surabhi and Soubaghya, both produced by Balakumaran Oil Mills. Of note is the fact that such bans have taken place multiple times before in Kerala. In December last year, FSSAI had banned another 70 coconut oil brands in the state, June saw 51 bans and May saw 45 bans. Including the latest ban updates, the total number of coconut oil bans that have been instated in the state so far has reached 180.“If the unsafe food articles are not recalled with immediate effect, the very purpose of the Food Safety Act will be defeated and it may lead to serious public health issues,” said FSSAI.India is well-known for being protective of its coconut oil, as previously evidenced by a strongly-worded letter by an Indian governmental official against a Harvard adjunct professor who had declared coconut oil to be ‘pure poison’.Harvard later distanced itself from any direct connection with the claims, saying that the professor in question was not a ‘Harvard professor’.New adulteration detection method for vegetable oilsThe ban comes of the heels of FSSAI’s implementation of an adulteration technique late last month. |
