Arrest of Ajay Agarwal for Milk Adulteration

Police in Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh, have arrested businessman Ajay Agarwal for producing 500 litres of counterfeit milk with just one litre of chemicals. Agarwal, the owner of Agarwal Traders, which sells milk and dairy products, mixed artificial sweeteners and flavours with chemicals to create fake milk. Authorities allege that Agarwal has been selling synthetic milk and paneer for the past two decades.

How Fake Milk Was Created

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) raided Agarwal’s store and four warehouses, seizing pre-mixed chemicals. “Agarwal hasn’t revealed the substances he used, but with just five millilitres of chemicals, he could produce up to two litres of imitation milk,” an official told reporters. He added that Agarwal used flavouring agents to ensure the synthetic milk mimicked the appearance, taste, and smell of real milk.

FSSAI Raid Seizes Counterfeit Milk Ingredients and Expired Chemicals

According to Dainik Bhaskar, Agarwal shared the recipe for synthetic milk with other milk vendors in his village. Many of the artificial sweeteners seized by authorities had expired two years ago. Additional chemicals found in his warehouses included caustic potash, whey powder, sorbitol, milk permeate powder, and refined soy fats.

Investigation Underway

Meanwhile, police are questioning Agarwal to trace the source of the formula. Vinit Saxena, an FSSAI representative, stated that authorities are also investigating the buyers of Agarwal’s counterfeit milk and dairy products. “We’re working to determine where he has distributed these ‘milk’ items over the past six months,” he said.

Source: CNBC TV 18