Patanjali products fail quality tests: RTI reply
An RTI query has revealed that Patanjali products have failed several quality assessment tests conducted by Haridwar's Ayurveda and Unani Office. The news comes on the heels of the Army's canteen stores divisions suspending sales of Patanjali's Amla juice over failed quality assessments in West Bengal. So far, Patanjali officials have denied that their products are sub-standard, saying it is a conspiracy.
Patanjali no stranger to controversy
This is not the first time Patanjali food products have been in trouble. Samples of Patanjali's mustard oil, salt, besan and honey had failed quality tests in 2012. They were also fined for misleading advertising in 2016.
What did the RTI query reveal?
The RTI query revealed that 32 out of 82 Ayurvedic products that were tested, failed to meet the quality standards prescribed by the government. 18 samples of other Ayurveda drugs such as Avipattikara Churna, Talisadya Churna, Pushyanuga Churna, Lavan Bhaskar Churna, Yograj Guggulu, Laksha Guggulu were also found to be sub-standard. Over 40% of Ayurvedic products tested by the lab were sub-standard.
Details of Patanjali products
According to the report, the pH value of Patanjali's Amla juice was found to be very low and posed the risk of causing acidity and other medical complications to consumers. The Patanjali Shivling Beej, a natural seed touted to improve female fertility was found to contain over 31.6% foreign matter. However, the company has so far denied any wrongdoing.
Acharya Balkrishna refutes data
Dismissing the reports as an attempt to malign Patanjali's image, Patanjali's managing director, Acharya Balkrishna denied any wrongdoing on Patanjali's part. He added that "Shivlingi Beej is a natural seed. How can we adulterate it?"
