Report

Gujarat authorities have intensified their crackdown on food adulteration, uncovering alarming violations in paneer production. Inspections by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Gujarat’s Food and Drugs Control Authority (FDCA) exposed eateries and factories using industrial chemicals and fat substitutes to produce low-quality dairy.

In six months, AMC seized 1,500 kg of adulterated paneer from multiple locations in Ahmedabad. Tests confirmed adulteration at Shreeji Bhajipav, Pulav Restaurant (Jodhpur), and Mahalaxmi Dairy (Sabarmati). Inspectors also flagged fryums from Shree Ambeshwar Provision Stores (Vejalpur) and mawa barfi from Shri Shivshakti Chavana and Sweet Mart (Viratnagar) for failing quality standards. Authorities plan to file police complaints against four establishments.

Further inspections revealed substandard paneer at Shreeji Dairy (Asarwa) and Gatod Parotha House (Jodhpur), along with garlic snacks from Ambeshwar Chavana and Sweet Mart (Vejalpur) that failed to meet quality standards.

FDCA Exposes Large-Scale Paneer Adulteration

Gujarat’s FDCA expanded its probe after testing 300+ paneer samples from highway hotels during Diwali, revealing 30-35% failed quality checks. FDCA Commissioner HG Koshia confirmed that factories replaced milk fat with cheaper vegetable oils and used industrial-grade acetic acid for solidification.

Investigators uncovered a racket where factory owners extracted milk fat and substituted it with soybean oil to cut costs. Several unlicensed units were sealed. In a major violation, officials shut down a Kanodar-based factory illegally manufacturing paneer with soybean oil instead of milk fat. The FDCA has intensified highway hotel inspections and continues its crackdown on adulteration.

Authorities Seal Food Outlets Over Hygiene Violations

Between February 15 and March 1, AMC’s health department shut down six food establishments after receiving citizen complaints about poor hygiene.

• Royal Brothers Cake Bakery in Nikol shut down on February 20 after a customer reported cockroaches in a cake.
• Azad Sweets and Restaurant in Navrangpura faced closure on February 26 due to cockroaches found in sweets.
• Annur Chicken Shop in Khanpur and Le Grand Residency Pvt Ltd in Ellisbridge closed on February 15 after inspectors found insects in food and unhygienic conditions.
• Shivshakti Chavana in Khodiyarnagar shut down on February 18 after officials discovered insects in snacks.

Authorities continue to tighten food safety measures, urging consumers to remain vigilant and report violations to prevent further health risks.

Source: The Times of India