Industry seeks more edible oil blending

Seeking governmental encouragement for higher sales of blended oil, the edible oil industry has sought permission to blend more than two edible oils.

In a letter addressed to T Nand Kumar, secretary, food and consumers affairs, the Solvent Extractors' of India, emphasised the need to encourage sale of blended oils for price equalisation between various oils to enable the industry to offer both nutritional and economical blends of edible oils to the consumers.

The industry body said strong preference for certain types of edible oil leads to demand pressure and increase in prices. For instance, preference for groundnut oil had recently led to a spurt in the prices of the commodity in the wake of a fall in output, the letter elaborated. At present, sale of blends of only two edible oils is allowed, with the condition that the ratio of any particular oil in the blend shall not be below 20 per cent.

A R Sharma, president, the Solvent Extractors' of India, stressed that the industry should be allowed to sell blends of multiple oils without any conditions on the minimum percentage of any particular oil.

"There should not be any stipulation to mention the names and percentages of the particular oils used. However, fat composition of the blend should be required to be mentioned on the label," Sharma said in his letter.