KOHAT: The open and unchecked sale of substandard ghee in the market is spreading serious ailments among people in the absence of any check from the authorities.

Dr Hashim Bokhari of KDA hospital said low quality ghee was used in production units of bakeries, hotels and even in homes. He said use of cheap quality product was spreading diseases of stomach, liver, throat, heart and kidneys.

He said the number of patients with such diseases was increasing with the day.

The doctor said ghee was the main item used in making of everything from bakery items to fast food.

Hadi Burhan, retailer of a ghee brand, confided to Dawn that there were only a few branded firms. He claimed that more than a dozen factories in Karachi were producing substandard ghee by changing labels every time. Such ghee was used in hotels, tandoors, fast food outlets, and making of pakoras and samosas.

The retailer explained that there was a difference of Rs700 between the prices of the branded and cheap quality companies selling a five kilograme ghee tin.

He said the best-refined quality of five kilogrammes was available for Rs1,500 as compared to Rs800 charged for unbranded product.

Ahmed Nadeem Shinwari, area manager of a branded ghee company, told Dawn on phone that the companies in Karachi skipped double-refining as compared to the branded products. “They heated the ghee and then put it in tins, and the people had to scratch to pull it out from tins. The fake companies avoid refining costs,” he added.

While making huge profits these companies sold a 16kg unrefined tin for Rs4,200, while the price of branded companies was Rs4,600 for the same weight, he explained.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2021