Fake ‘ghee’ mafia of Gujarat, Rajasthan eye Indore as hotspot:15–20% of market stock suspected to be adulterated; supply traced to border states city godowns to your plate

In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the cleanest city of India — Indore — as Swad Ki Rajdhani (capital of taste). “In Indore, 56 Dukan is famous, so is Sarafa. That is why, along with being the capital of cleanliness, it is also called Swad Ki Rajdhani,” he had said. But today, the city that earned fame as India’s Food Capital for its irresistible taste and culinary innovation is facing a bitter truth, i.e. adulterated ghee has become a silent poison in its kitchens. From temples and wedding feasts to sweet shops and household cooking, fake ‘desi ghee’ is finding its way onto the plate, threatening health and eroding trust. In the last one year alone, officials have seized nearly 15,000–20,000 litres of adulterated ghee, with the most recent haul of over 4,000 kg in October 2025. The crackdown reveals a disturbing network of suppliers, middlemen, and repackers operating across city warehouses and nearby states, all eyeing Indore’s booming dairy market. Why Indore is on the adulterators’ radar Indore’s massive consumption patterns make it a lucrative target. The city consumes around 12 lakh litres of milk daily, sourced from a 100 km radius covering Ujjain, Nagda, Dhar, Dewas, and other districts. Its food-driven culture, from temple kitchens and catering units to sweet shops and tiffin services, ensures a huge daily demand for ghee. Indore’s reputation as India’s Food Capital and its unmatched logistics and road connectivity make it a natural hub. That’s exactly why adulterators see an opportunity here. said a senior food safety officer. According to estimates, 15–20% of ghee sold in Indore’s markets is suspected adulterated, and the percentage might be even higher in nearby smaller towns. From where it comes to Indore Investigations have revealed that adulterated ghee flows into Indore from multiple states: Once it reaches Indore, the product is repacked locally in industrial zones like Palda, Malharganj, Sanwer Road, Bhawarkuan, and Siyaganj, under fake local brands mimicking popular companies. How adulterated ghee is made The process is a dangerous mix of chemistry and deception. Adulterators use palm oil, vanaspati, and vegetable fats, melting and mixing them in large drums. Artificial essences are then added to mimic the aroma of desi ghee. To evade lab detection, chemical agents are added to balance the RM (Reichert-Meissl) value, a key purity test indicator. The final product, though identical in appearance, is nutritionally dead and medically harmful. It is sold at Rs380–Rs450 per kg, while the actual cost of pure ghee should be Rs650 or more, considering milk prices of Rs66 per litre. Milk costs Rs66 a litre. From 10 litres, you can make only 700–800 grams of pure ghee. Selling so-called pure ghee for Rs450–rs500 a kilogram is impossible unless it’s fake. These people are gambling with lives and must be booked under NSA. said Bharat Mathurawala, President, Indore Dugdh Vikreta Sangh. The web of supply and repacking The adulteration racket is spread deep across the city’s industrial and trading pockets. Warehouses in Palda, Bhanwarkuan, Malharganj, Devasanaka, and Loha Mandi are being used for repacking, distribution, and wholesale sale to smaller towns like Khargone, Khandwa, Barwani, and Dhar. From these godowns, smaller consignments move through two-wheelers, mini-trucks, and loading vehicles, reaching local markets and rural shops. Some of the seized packaging even carried labels like ‘Desi Shuddh Ghee’ in bold fonts, while the content inside was entirely synthetic. Officials say adulterators are now using ‘lab-safe’ chemical formulas that make the ghee pass purity tests by artificially balancing key lab readings. This sophistication has made detection increasingly difficult. The impossible math of cheap ghee This is economically impossible unless it’s fake. Such ghee is mainly used in bhandaras, weddings, and sweet manufacturing, where quantity trumps quality. added Mathurawala. Major actions and crackdowns The Indore Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted several major raids in recent months: How it affects health The damage caused by adulterated ghee is not immediate but devastating over time. For children, the consequences are even more alarming as it is impairing their growth and metabolism How to check if your ghee Is pure or adulterated Consumers can perform these simple home purity tests: Government vows zero tolerance, strengthening labs Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Narendra Shivaji Patel emphasized on the zero tolerance policy of the state and strengthening the testing facilities. Food safety teams have intensified raids under the direction of Collector Shivam Verma, targeting illegal repackaging units and testing samples from across the Indore district. The ‘bitter truth’ behind the golden glow Behind the golden sheen of ‘shuddh desi ghee’ lies a dangerous mixture of palm oil, essence, and deceit. Indore’s pride in food culture is under threat from a parallel economy of adulterated ghee one that plays with public health for profit. Unless the enforcement tightens and consumers become vigilant, the same ghee that once symbolized purity may continue to poison the city’s plates. ​