Two weeks after the sampling of Baba Ramdev’s newly launched Atta noodles, the District Food and Safety Department picked up samples of Ghee (clarified butter) from the Patanjali Ayurved ltd Unit 2 located beside Divya Nursery on National Highway on Monday.
Taking cognizance of the media reports about bugs and fungus allegedly found in two of Patanjali’s food products, noodles and ghee, Uttarakhand Government had decided to examine their quality standards. On December 11, the samples of Atta noodles were picked up from Akash Yog Health Product in SIDCUl.
The results of the previous samples is awaited, say the Department officials.
Notably, the neighbouring State Himachal Pradesh ruled by Congress had also ordered the Health Department to examine the samples of Patanjali Atta noodles, manufactured by yoga guru Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved ltd, following contamination reports coming from Uttarakhand.
The Department’s move came a day after the State Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi had assured the mediapersons of quality testing during his Haridwar visit on Saturday.
Speaking to The Pioneer, District officer, Food and Safety Department, Mahimanand Joshi said, “We have taken two samples of Patanjali Ghee of two different batches from the second unit of Patanjali Aurved ltd located near Patanjali Yog Peeth and sent them to the State testing laboratory at Rudrapur. This is under regular sampling process.”
When asked about the result of the earlier samples taken, the official said it would take some time depending on the work load of the State-based lab.
Earlier, six products, including honey, Besan, mustard oil, salt, juice and pineapple jam, were sampled and the matter is sub-judice now.
Baba’s close aide, Acharya Bal Krishna said, “We are making our products as per the quality standards and good manufacturing practices. We would not be found wanting, we are sure. The Food and Safety Department sampling things is a regular procedure. There is no reason to read more into them.”