PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FDA) seized 500 kilogrammes of adulterated paneer in Dehradun on Wednesday during a routine inspection. The district FDA team, led by food safety officers Manish Sayana and Ramesh Singh, conducted the operation in collaboration with local police at Niranjanpur Mandi. While checking vehicles in the Bhandari Bagh area, they found a suspicious white Hyundai Eon van. Upon stopping and searching the vehicle, they discovered approximately 500 kilogrammes of paneer stored in unhygienic conditions without any cold storage arrangement.
As per the officials, the paneer was packed in plastic sacks and transported in the open. Preliminary physical examination indicated that the paneer was unfit for human consumption. The officials stated that a man named Mohammad Irshad was present in the vehicle but he failed to produce valid documents regarding the manufacturing location, distribution registration or any brand-related details. The officials stated that milk-based products like paneer must be stored and transported at temperatures between two degree celsius and eight degree celsius. Failure to maintain this temperature range can lead to rapid spoilage and bacterial growth, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses such as food poisoning, diarrhea, typhoid and calcium deficiency. Samples of the paneer were sent to the state food analysis laboratory for testing. The remaining stock was destroyed at the trenching ground in Kargi Chowk. Further legal action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, after receiving the test report, as per the officials.
The FDA commissioner R Rajesh Kumar also said that the department is operating on a zero-tolerance policy toward adulterated food products. He added that such practices endanger public health and the department will continue regular inspections across the State. The FDA additional commissioner Tajber Singh Jaggi stated that some individuals are still trying to circulate substandard food items in the market through illegal means. He said that surveillance across Dehradun and the entire state has been intensified to prevent such activities.
The FDA officials urged the public to report any suspicious activity related to food items in shops, roadside eateries, hotels, dairies or food units. They assured that the identity of complainants will remain confidential and that swift action will follow any credible information.
