650kg paneer destroyed in GB Nagar during inspections ahead of Raksha Bandhan

The food safety department in Gautam Budh Nagar destroyed around 650kg of paneer (cottage cheese) following two separate inspections ahead of Raksha Bandhan, which found the product to be, prima facie, unsuitable for human consumption, officials said on Monday

The food safety department in Gautam Budh Nagar destroyed around 650kg of paneer (cottage cheese) following two separate inspections ahead of Raksha Bandhan, which found the product to be, prima facie, unsuitable for human consumption, officials said on Monday.

The action comes as demand for milk and dairy products typically rises around festivals, increasing the risk of substandard or adulterated products entering the market. (HT Photo)

The action comes as demand for milk and dairy products typically rises around festivals, increasing the risk of substandard or adulterated products entering the market. Samples collected during the operations have been sent to laboratories for detailed testing, and further action will depend on the results.

In the first operation, conducted during the intervening night of August 21 and 22, officials intercepted a vehicle carrying around 350kg of paneer from Mahgora in Aligarh to Greater Noida at Lakhnavali. The consignment was meant for supply to markets in Delhi-NCR, officials said.

“Food safety officials collected a sample and seized the remaining stock after it appeared, on preliminary inspection, to be adulterated or unsuitable for human consumption. The seized paneer was subsequently destroyed with the assistance of the Greater Noida authority,” said Sarvesh Mishra, assistant commissioner (food), Gautam Budh Nagar.

In a separate operation on the night of August 22 and during August 23, officials collected eight samples of paneer, curd, khoya and boondi laddus from different locations.

One sample was collected from paneer being transported from Kilokri in Bulandshahr towards Delhi, near the DND Flyway. Other samples were collected from establishments in Sector 88, Tughalpur, Knowledge Park 2 and near Yatharth Hospital in Greater Noida.

Officials also found around 300 kg of paneer at a dairy in Garhi Chaukhandi, Noida. The stock had reportedly been supplied from Mewat, Haryana. After collecting a sample, officials destroyed the remaining stock as it appeared prima facie unsuitable for human consumption.

On Monday, food safety officials also collected samples of sweets and khoya from shops in Sector 134 and from Ecotech 2. A team also collected a sample of rasgulla from a manufacturing unit in Sarfabad, Sector 72, and destroyed around 100kg of rasgullas after finding them in a contaminated condition with flies and mosquitoes.

“The department is conducting inspections to ensure the availability of safe and quality milk and milk products to the public, particularly ahead of the festival season,” Mishra said, adding that inspections and sampling would continue to ensure that food products available in the district meet prescribed safety standards.

The samples have been sent for laboratory examination, and further action will be taken based on the test reports.