In a major crackdown on adulterated food, the Food Safety Department in Gujarat’s Surat district on Friday seized around 1,401 kilograms of suspected adulterated paneer.
The food manufacturing facility was operating without an FSSAI license. Samples of paneer have been sent for testing to ensure consumer safety FSSAI said in a social media post on X.
Lower quality cooking oil seized in UP
Recently, cases of food adulteration have become widespread and, in some cases, increasingly sophisticated, posing a danger to public health.
Last month, the Uttar Pradesh Food and Drug Safety Authority (FSDA) seized 416,494 liters of cooking oil of dubious or inferior quality, worth close to ₹6.43 million, the news agency reported PTI.
The agency said 58 inter-district units have been organized and deployed and 64 edible oil production sites have been inspected.
“On inspection, 8 units were found to be closed, while 56 units were found to be operable, against which enforcement action was taken,” the department said.
As many as 206 samples of edible oil were taken for testing, he added.
On February 25, an FSDA unit seized and destroyed 900 kg of contaminated khoya (condensed milk) at Panki railway station in Kanpur district. The khoya delivered by rail was found to be in extremely unsanitary conditions. The seized spoiled khoya was dumped at a waste treatment facility in Kanpur’s Govindnagar area.
The FSSAI seized fake paneer near Noida along with 1,400 kg of imitation khoya in Jhansi and 400 kg of stale ghee.
On February 27, FSSAI posted a video clip on Instagram showing authorities discarding a significant amount of substandard paneer at the dump.
It said the consignment was stopped late at night at the Jewar Toll Plaza on the Yamuna Expressway.
FSSAI Director General asks States, UTs to strengthen monitoring framework
Recently, during the 49th Central Advisory Committee meeting held in Gangtok, Sikkim, FSSAI Director General Rajit Punhani asked states and union territories to significantly strengthen local monitoring frameworks with a strong emphasis on high-risk food groups.
Punhani highlighted the requirement for risk-based audits and ongoing monitoring of campaigns for high-risk materials such as milk and dairy products, cooking oils, spices and honey.
According to an official statement, Punhani demanded firm and transparent action against non-adherent food business operators and instructed states/UTs to take dedicated police initiatives and report frequently on action taken. He also emphasized that stable regulation and active public disclosure of results are essential to deter wrongdoing and to strengthen buyer confidence.
The Director General further emphasized the need to expand food safety personnel at the state/UT level.
