Ecofriendly rice bran oil without using any chemicals - This is what Dhuri-based A P Solvex Group of Industries claims to be offering to its consumers. Set up in 1986, the company supplies rice bran oil to big brands including Saffola Gold and Sundrop Heart, which contain 80% refined rice bran oil.

"We refine our oil physically without using any chemicals. This way we are able to save oryzonol- the basic nutrient to reduce. However, other oil companies use alkalis to give a better colour to the oil and kill most of nutrients," said A.R Sharma, the 49-year-old chairman of the group.

Soon, Dhara's new brand Dhara Health with 80% of rice bran oil and 20% of sunflower oil will be packaged from this unit.

For following eco-friendly measures, this company got the first national award in the field of research and development in the country. Sharma said, "We bagged the award for R&D in medium enterprises category."

Sharma was conferred with the award by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on August 30 at Vigyan Bhawan along with a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, besides a certificate and a trophy. And to know more about the health problems, Sharma is all set to do Ph.D in food laws from Panjab University.

The company, which also markets its oil under the brand name Ricela, has emerged as the largest rice bran oil refining group in the country with a capacity to process around 350 tonnes of rice bran daily.

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