SALE OF GHEE IN INDIA

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27576, 5 February 1955, Page 7

SALE OF GHEE IN INDIA

U.S. Samples Of Butter Derivative

(Rec. 9.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, February 3. News of the impact of two samples of United States ghee on the Indian palate was today being anxiously awaited by officials in Washington. The two samples of ghee—a derivative of butter considered a delicacy in Asia and many parts of the Middle East, although slightly rancid to Western taste—were flown to India 10 days ago, a spokesman of the Department of Agriculture said today. If the ghee received a good reception in India, the United States believes it may have found a way to reduce its 260,000,0001 b stock of surplus butter, and at the same time delight its Asian and Arab friends. The United States today unveiled plans for “operation ghee” to a 20nation gathering of commerce experts at the Agriculture Department. A conference source said that the United States was still only in the planning stages, but was “decidedly impressed” about the possibilities of marketing ghee. Australia, a nation which has sold small quantities of ghee to Malaya and India over recent years, was asked to offer advice. An Agricultural Department official said: “We have been hard at work trying to produce a ghee suitable to the Indian taste. We have had members of the Indian Embassy down to test our wares and are hopeful that we may have a suitable product now. ‘‘We understand that Indians like this ghee smokey in appearance and to have a rancid taste. We think our two samples meet both requirements.” Ghee is made by heating butter over a slow fire and letting it cool very gradually. A whitish portion, very high in fat, floats to the top and is skimmed. From that is made the best quality ghee, and the residue is mixed with vegetable oils to make a lower grade of ghee.

Mr Dulles’s Holiday Ends.— The State Department announced today that Mr John Foster Dulles, the Secretary of State, will return to Washington on Saturday or Sunday from his fishing holiday in the Bahamas. The date of his return was arranged some time ago, and is not connected with the Formosa developments, a spokesman added.—Washington. February 3.

In Prison Every Year Since 1932. A 65-year-old jobbing gardener, who was gaoled in Edinburgh for two years for fraud, was said in Court to have been in prison every year since 1932. -London. February S,