Over the past month, the wholesale price of mustard oil has risen by ₹30 per kilogram. But the biggest fraud is that, along with the price increase, companies have also cleverly reduced the quantity of oil in the packet. While a liter of oil used to weigh 910 grams, most companies are now selling 810 to 840-gram packets, which have reached a price of ₹170 to ₹180 per packet. This directly harms consumers, who have to pay more for approximately 70 to 100 grams less oil.
Companies are reducing oil weight, but customers are unaware
Kumar Gaurav, a grocery shopkeeper in Hadiya Patti, explains, “Now, one liter of oil actually contains only 810-840 grams. Customers think they are buying a liter, but in reality, they are getting less oil.” Some major brands are still selling 910 grams of oil, but their prices have reached ₹210 per liter.
Shopkeeper Sumit says, “The reduction in oil quantity and the increase in prices are confusing customers. They don’t realize they’re paying more for less.” This weight manipulation is eroding consumer confidence.
Sharp decline in sales and the state of the wholesale market
The reduction in weight and the lack of events during the month of Sawan have severely impacted oil sales. According to Gaurav, sales have fallen by about 40 percent. Rahul Jain, a wholesaler in Kalali Gali, confirmed that the wholesale price of mustard oil, which was ₹150 per kg a month ago, has now risen to ₹180. This surge in prices, both at the wholesale and retail levels, is severely disrupting household budgets.
Housewives’ kitchen budgets are facing a huge blow
This manipulation of oil prices and quantities is severely impacting the kitchen budgets of ordinary housewives. Rekha Devi of Tilak Manjhi says, “Earlier, five liters of oil would easily last a month, but now the oil has become more expensive and the quantity has also decreased. We have to pay more than before. We don’t even realize that the oil quantity in the packets has been reduced.” Sunita Devi of Mundichak says, “Now we have to reduce the amount of oil in our food so that the budget is not affected.”
Violation of the Indian Weight Act and Demand for Government Monitoring
According to CA Pradeep Kumar Jhunjhunwala, under the Indian Weights Act, one liter of liquid should weigh 910 grams. Instead of increasing prices, companies are reducing the weight, which is against consumer interests. Net weight is mandatory on packets, but many companies are not following this. Consumer rights advocates demand that the government strictly monitor this fraud and take strict action against erring companies. Consumers need to be vigilant and not just look at the “liter” mark, but also check the “gram” weight listed on the package.