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. During an inspection of 13 edible oil samples, four were found to contain inedible substances, including peroxide and acid, beyond the prescribed limits, posing serious health risks.
The affected products include the Pakwan brand kitchen product manufactured by Shree Ram Refined Oil Product in Morang, which was found with excessive peroxide and acid values in batch/lot no. S-2. Additionally, the refined soybean oil from Amrit brand (batch/lot no. 11) by Annapurna Vegetable Product Pvt Ltd in Birgunj, and Kwality brand (batch/lot no. 08) by Kwality Oil Refinery Pvt Ltd in Biratnagar, were also found to not meet government standards. Family brand mustard oil (batch/lot no. 10) produced by Shiv Shakti Ghee Udhyog in Jitpur, Bara, similarly had excessive peroxide values.
Nur Nidhi Neupane, chief of the Agriculture and Livestock Department at the KMC, stated that the samples were tested at the National Food and Feed Reference Laboratory of the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control. Neupane warned that the harmful effects of consuming these contaminated oils increase when the products are heated, leading to potential respiratory and cardiac issues, high blood pressure fluctuations, and even cancer risks.
The KMC has given the concerned companies a three-day deadline to withdraw their defective products from the market.
