Delhi: A Delhi-based law firm has issued a legal notice to Patanjali Ayurved accusing it of “deceptively” using a “non-vegetarian” ingredient in its dental care products — ‘Divya Dant Manjan’ — and denoting it with a “green” sign on the product label.
“…The use of Samudra Fen, which is a non-vegetarian ingredient, in Divya Dant Manjan while marketing and selling it as a vegetarian product is the violation of the consumer rights and the labeling regulations of the said category of products (sic),” said the notice issued by Delhi-based BLJ Law Firm and undersigned by lawyer Sasha Jain.
Samudra Fen is an animal product obtained from the bones of cuttlefish, which goes by the scientific name of Sepia Officinalis. It contains calcium carbonate, phosphate, sulfate and silica, which is used as a scraping agent in dental care products.
“…Some of my family members, relatives, colleagues and friends use your Divya Dant Manjan, and their religious sentiments were hurt when they learned about the deceptive use of Samudra Fen in the product,” the notice said.
In the notice, which has asked the company for clarification within 15 days, Jain adds that legal proceedings will be initiated against the firm before the appropriate authorities and court of law.
“People buy Patanjali products blindly due to their faith in (Yoga guru) Baba Ramdev ji,” said the notice. “Your company is expected to maintain the highest standards of ethics and transparency and the use of green mark for a product containing Samudra Fen, which is a fish, goes against these standards.”
ThePrint reached Jain via calls but she refused to speak more on the subject.
We also reached Patanjali via WhatsApp and calls, but received no reply. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.
On its website, Patanjali says that after the treatment of lakhs of people for various dental problems, it has ascertained that Divya Dant Manjan is the most powerful medicated product for gums and teeth.
“By using this tooth powder, gums become strong. Resultantly dental problems like Pieria (flow of blood and pus from the gums) would be solved and the tiny food particles that are left in between the gums would be pushed out,” says the product description. “Bad odor from the mouth would cease. Saliva glands work properly and teeth would be healthy and shine well (sic)”
Samudra Fen is listed as one of the 16 ingredients used in the product.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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