Kathmandu Metropolitan City fines companies for selling contaminated edible oil

KATHMANDU:  The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has imposed a cash fine of Rs 200,000 on each of four companies found selling edible oil contaminated with harmful components.

According to the KMC, four out of thirteen cross-checked edible oils were found to be defective. The contaminated products contained inedible substances, including peroxide and acid, beyond the prescribed limits, posing a serious threat to human health.

The Pakwan brand, manufactured by Shree Ram Refined Oil Product in Morang, had excessive peroxide and acid values in its batch/lot no. S-2. Similarly, refined soybean oil from the Amrit brand (batch/lot no. 11) and the Kwality brand (batch/lot no. 08) did not meet government standards.

These products are produced by Annapurna Vegetable Product Pvt Ltd in Birgunj, Parsa, and Kwality Oil Refinery Pvt Ltd in Biratnagar, Morang, respectively. Additionally, the Family brand mustard oil’s batch/lot no. 10, from Shiv Shakti Ghee Udhyog in Jitpur, Bara, also had excessive peroxide values.

Nur Nidhi Neupane, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Department at KMC, stated that samples of these brands were tested at the National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control. He highlighted that the harmful effects of edible oil increase when the peroxide value and acid value exceed 10 mg, especially when the products are heated.

Neupane warned that consuming edible oils with these contaminants could adversely affect respiratory and cardiac functions, leading to significant fluctuations in blood pressure and even an increased risk of cancer.

KMC has given the companies a deadline of three days to withdraw their defective products from the market.