By SAT News Desk
MELBOURNE, 29th November: Amul is India’s and the world’s leading dairy products brand since 1950.Worldwide Consumers have confidence in it and it is available in Indian and South Asian shops. Its Ghee (also known as desi Ghee), clarified butter made from the milk of a buffalo or cow and known as ‘Amul Ghee’ is the pride of any Indian/South Asian kitchen. It’s market acceptability and strength is the envy of competitors.
But a disturbing phenomenon is that illegally imported ‘Amul Ghee’ is freely available here. Said to be dangerous for health with the importers having no regard for people’s health. This not for export product is imported from India with forged documentation and Australian quarantine being hoodwinked as it is at times not declared as ‘Ghee’. ‘Ghee’ ordered online and delivered at home has a fair chance of being not for export.
Talking to SAT, Murphy Singh who’s company is the authorized importer of Amul products by Amul India says, “Be careful of your health by only buying genuine export Amul products, produced and brought into Australia as per Australian government guidelines”.
The price of the fake ‘Amul Ghee’ is quite low as compared to the genuine one giving a bigger margin to the importer and the retailer. For the buyer it’s difficult to distinguish between the fake and the genuine product. Printed technical details on the Ghee tins are complicated which confuse the customer. The end result is a fake ‘Amul Ghee’ is sold as a genuine one.
For distinguished marks to identify Amul export ghee
1.Red plastic lid on top of the tin
2.Look for sales@indiasfinest.com.au at the bottom of the tin
Under current Australian bio security guidelines, the Ghee should have a manufacturing declaration from the company on their letterhead signed by the authorized person that manufactured/produced the goods (either the specific site or head office within the country of export). This particular document is either not given or is forged and supplied to Australian authorities.
Not for export ghee (not authorized for Australia) normally will not have Red Plastic Lid on top of tin. There will be no importer details, since the importer doesn’t want to be detected. It will also say ‘not for sale outside India’ as these tins can be copied and manufactured by people who make counterfeit products. Most of the time, the date of expiry on not for export tins are also tampered with. Even after the normal expiry dates, new dates are printed in Australia by people with a vested interest as they have no regard for consumer health. It’s very hard for Australian authorities to detect and test every tin though they are trying to do their best, more needs to be done.
The Indian market is full of fake ‘Ghee’ of all leading brands including ‘Amul’. A Google and You Tube search explains the extent of fake ‘Ghee’ manufacturing factories being busted by cops in India. It is these factories which are the supply centres of fake ‘Ghee’ in India and export overseas including Australia.
One news item in Hans India (Hyderabad) says, “The makers of adulterated ghee use Palmolein and Vanaspati to prepare it. The mix also contains about 15 per cent original ghee to impress the customer.”
Another recent report in OneIndia quotes UP government officials as saying that they suspect the Ghee being sold in UP government canteens was a combination of refined oil, Vanaspati oil and desi ghee scent and hazardous chemicals.
A Facebook post from Amul Export says, “Please ensure you are only buying genuine Amul export products, which comply by Australian food laws and guidelines. By purchasing non-genuine export products, they can serve as a serious health hazard to you and your family. Amul products are available at all good shops in Victoria. Only buy Amul Products with the following email address at the bottom of tin “sales@indiasfinest.com.au”.
The above message relates to all Amul products.
Manager Sales, Amul Export.”
The question is, market analysts say, is not just of illegally imported Amul products but that of many other leading Indian brands also whose sale and consumption can be dangerous to a buyer’s health because they are illegal imports. It’s high time Australia takes a strict action to stop this business in spurious food products.
