600 kg paneer destroyed in Noida, Jaipur as food safety crackdown intensifies
Food safety teams in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have stepped up inspections and sampling of milk, paneer, khoya, sweets, ghee and other food products amid concerns over adulteration and the sale of substandard or unsafe food items.
Amid the intensified food safety crackdown in various parts of the country, authorities in Rajasthan's Jaipur and Uttar Pradesh's Noida destroyed a total of 600 kg paneer during raids in the two cities. Moreover, several samples of other dairy-based food items, including khoya, ghee and curd, were also sent for testing.
The action came during raids conducted at multiple locations in view of the upcoming festive season.
Food safety teams in both states have stepped up inspections and sampling of milk, paneer, khoya, sweets, ghee and other food products amid concerns over adulteration and the sale of substandard or unsafe food items.
Officials said further action would be taken against establishments based on laboratory test reports.
300 KG PANEER DESTROYED IN JAIPUR
In Jaipur, a team of the Food Safety Department inspected a dairy business, where a sample of paneer was collected. Around 300 kg of the item was destroyed after it was found to have been stored under extremely unhygienic conditions. Officials said the product was prima facie found to fall in the category of unsafe food.
The inspection was part of a wider state-level enforcement drive being conducted under the direction of senior officials of the Medical and Health Department. Teams have been instructed to intensify inspections, sampling, seizures and sealing operations ahead of the festive season.
Meanwhile, in Rajasthan's Phalodi district, officials raided an illegal vegetable-fat manufacturing unit. Around 690 kg of vegetable fat was seized, along with raw materials, a packing machine and finished products. The factory was subsequently sealed.
In Dholpur district, food safety officials inspected multiple establishments. Samples of milk and ghewar from two different shops were collected and sent to a food laboratory for testing.
Additional Commissioner Bhagwat Singh said special monitoring was being carried out for milk, mawa, sweets, paneer, ghee and other food products. He said action would be initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act if products were found to be substandard, unsafe or misbranded.
FOOD SAFETY CRACKDOWN IN NOIDA
In Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar district, which covers Noida, the Food Safety Department intensified inspections on the directions of the District Magistrate and the state's Food Safety and Drug Administration.
During a raid at a dairy business, officials recovered approximately 300 kg of paneer supplied from Haryana. After collecting a sample, the food safety team found the paneer prima facie unfit for consumption and had the entire batch destroyed.
Assistant Commissioner (Food), Grade-II, Sarvesh Mishra said that eight samples were sent to the laboratory during the day's campaign. These included samples of paneer, curd, khoya and boondi laddoos.
Samples were collected from multiple establishments across Noida and Greater Noida. Officials said the laboratory reports would determine the next course of action.