Dabur, Patanjali, Emami Selling Adulterated Honey: CSE

New Delhi: Top-notch Indian brands Dabur, Patanjali and Emami have landed in a soup after their honey samples failed an adulteration test carried out by a foreign company.

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Wednesday claimed that of the 13 brands which were tested, only honey sold by Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar was found to be free from adulteration. The other brands — including Dabur, Patanjali, Emami, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya — failed the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) test.

However, according to a report in Forbes India, Dabur and Patanjali have questioned the CSE report and claimed that they have strictly followed the norms set by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for testing purity of honey.

“The recent reports seem motivated and aimed at maligning our brand. We assure our consumers that Dabur Honey is 100 per cent pure and indigenous, collected naturally from Indian sources and packed with no added sugar or other adulterants,” a Dabur spokesperson told PTI.

Patanjali Ayurved Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna said, “It seems to be a plot to defame Indian natural honey industry and manufacturers in a bid to promote processed honey.”

Balkrishna further said that it is a “gameplan to replace lakhs of rural farmers and honey growers including Khadi & Village commission channel” with artificial honey makers.

Dabur even took to its official Twitter handle to assure consumers that the company’s honey is 100% pure and safe for consumption.

“Dabur Honey clears all FSSAI tests and has the first corporate-owned NMR machine in India to ensure 100 percent purity,” tweeted Dabur.