Report

The Food and Safety Department shut down an illegal paneer and milk production facility in Bulandshahr and seized over 2,500 kg of tainted paneer and 4,000 kg of imitation milk. Authorities intended to distribute these counterfeit products across Delhi-NCR. They apprehended the factory owner, Mohd Imamuddin, in Dambar village, located in the Arniya region of Bulandshahr of Uttar Pradesh.

Fake Paneer Contaminated with Chemicals

Assistant Commissioner Vineet Kumar confirmed that tests on the samples showed Imamuddin’s factory produced fake paneer, laced with oil and chemicals, making it unsafe for consumption. The factory distributed the dangerous paneer to various restaurants and stores across Delhi-NCR. Officials explained that genuine paneer costs Rs 400-450 per kg, while the counterfeit version sold for Rs 180-250 per kg. Imamuddin’s factory replaced fresh milk with milk powder and used inferior oils like palm oil. The factory also added harmful substances, such as hydrogen peroxide and safolite, to the milk, posing severe health risks.

Counterfeit Milk Seized in Sikandrabad

Nearly two weeks earlier, the FDA team raided the Sikandrabad region in Bulandshahr and seized a tanker with approximately 1,400 litres of counterfeit milk. During questioning, the suspect admitted to making the milk using glucose and refined oil.

Long-Running Scheme Exposed

In another incident, authorities arrested Ajay Agarwal, the owner of Agarwal Traders in Bulandshahr, for producing 500 litres of counterfeit milk using just one litre of chemicals. Agarwal allegedly sold synthetic milk and paneer for the past two decades, blending artificial sweeteners and flavours with chemicals to mimic real milk.

Source: The Times of India