State food laboratory tests in Kharar declared the seized samples substandard and hazardous.
Fake ‘Fortified’ Oil Triggers Vitamin D Poisoning in Punjab Homes
In Punjab, a serious public health concern has emerged after investigations traced cases of severe vitamin D poisoning to a fraudulent “fortified” cooking oil being sold in local markets. The revelation comes months after hospitals began treating patients with life-threatening symptoms linked to dangerously high levels of the nutrient.
The alarm was raised when six residents of Rajpura in Patiala district, including two children, were taken to the emergency ward at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh. Patients exhibited persistent vomiting, extreme weakness and altered consciousness. Clinical tests revealed acute hypervitaminosis D, a condition where excessive vitamin D causes hypercalcemia (critically high blood calcium levels) and acute kidney distress. Doctors at PGI described the cases as unusual and severe, prompting deeper inquiry.
Punjab’s health department, along with the state food safety wing, coordinated the investigation that ultimately revealed a deceptive supply chain stretching to Kolkata. According to authorities, raw edible oil from well-known brands was being tampered with in local “mixing” operations in Fatehgarh Sahib and Rajpura. Distributors infused the oil with excessive and toxic concentrations of vitamin D, far beyond safe nutritional levels, before repackaging it in loose bottles under a fake local brand name.
Officials confirmed the bottles carried fraudulent labels claiming FSSAI approval and touted the product as “fortified for bone health” to win consumer trust. Dr Gurpreet Kaur, District Health Officer of Patiala, said the practice constituted not only adulteration but also branding fraud that directly jeopardised public health.
State food laboratory tests in Kharar declared the seized samples substandard and hazardous. In earlier raids, authorities had already confiscated over 350 boxes and hundreds of bottles of the suspect oil. Legal action is underway against those involved, with a formal court case filed and public advisories issued across villages near Rajpura urging residents to stop using the product immediately.
The implicated retail shop has since been closed, and epidemiologists continue surveys in impact areas. Health officials are emphasising vigilance in food purchases and warning consumers about misleading “fortified” products in local markets.
Source: Times of India
