PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE /Dehradun
A paneer manufacturing unit was found using skimmed milk powder and palmolein oil to prepare paneer during an inspection by the Food Safety and Drug Administration on the night of October 3 in Nanheda Anantpur village of Roorkee block in Haridwar, officials said.
Officials found around 20 kilogrammes of palmolein oil and 30 kilogrammes of skimmed milk powder at the premises. The manufacturer reportedly admitted that the two products were being used to prepare paneer, which was then sold in the market for Rs 240 per kilogramme, FSDA deputy commissioner (Garhwal) RS Rawat said.
The team destroyed around two quintals of semi processed paneer and 30 kilogramme of palmolein oil during the action. The skimmed milk powder was seized and the manufacturing activity at the unit was stopped, Rawat said.
The paneer samples have been sent to the State Food Laboratory in Rudrapur for testing. The final quality and safety of the samples will be known after the laboratory report.
On the directions of FSDA commissioner Vinay Shankar Pandey and Haridwar district magistrate Mayur Dixit, the Food Safety Department conducted the raid.
Rawat said that further action would be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and relevant regulations. “The department inspections would continue to prevent food adulteration and ensure consumer safety,” Rawat added.
