RAWALPINDI, Oct 18: Various brands of edible oil, vanaspati ghee and industrial margarine available in the retail market are either adulterated or not in conformity with the required specifications laid down by the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

According to a survey jointly conducted by the PSQCA, Ministry of Science and Technology, Pakistan Standards Institute, local authorities and some private stakeholders, out of 15 samples collected from the retail market for analysis, 13 were found substandard.

Five of the substandard brands were also found to be underweight. The results were revealed by Consumers Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP).

The samples — eight of vanaspati ghee, two each of cooking oil and olein, one each of soyabean and mustard oil, and that of industrial margarine — were analyzed at Central Testing Laboratories, a PSQCA component.

During the analysis the samples were tested for nine parameters. The parameters were: moisture and volatile matter, percentage by weight; free fatty acidity calculated as oleic acid, percentage by weight; melting point as estimated by capillary tube method at complete fusion; butyro refractometer reading at 40 degree centigrade; unsponifiable matter in the final product, percentage by weight; nickel as parts per million, peroxide value; rancidity and vitamin A content.

According to the report, Maza Vanaspati did not conform to the vitamin A and low melting point specifications.

Malka Vanaspati was low on peroxide value. Milan Vanaspati’s free fatty acid, low melting point, peroxide value and vitamin A content were below required standards.

Bano Vanaspati, the report said, was found wanting in free fatty acid, melting point and vitamin A specifications.

Laziz Vanaspati did not conform to low melting point, refractive index and peroxide standards.

Sehat Vanapati did not follow the set parameters for moisture, low melting point, refractive index and vitamin A contents.

The report revealed that Ghousia Vanaspati was not only underweight, but also packed in old tin and did not conform to the low melting point, refractive index, peroxide value and vitamin A specifications.

Similarly, Meezan Vanaspati’s vitamin content was below standard.

Milan cooking oil did not conform to the vitamin A and iodine value specifications.

Classic Pakwan cooking oil was below standard with respect to vitamin A and iodine specifications.

Evian Soyabean oil was underweight and did not conform with the vitamin A specifications.

Olein from two opened and used tins having labels of Meezan Ghee and Jeddah Ghee was also substandard.

According to the sources, the report prepared by the science ministry a few months ago was shelved.

However, in view of the seriousness of the matter and for protecting consumers’ rights, the federal science minister, Prof (Dr) Attaur Rehman, was persuaded to make the report public.

The sources said many prominent brands were missing in the recently conducted sampling, but added that these would be included in a similar survey planned to be carried out in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and their suburban areas next month.