Ahead of the Holi festivities, the food safety and drug administration in Patna has seized over 500 kilograms of adulterated paneer from multiple locations. The authorities are ramping up vigilance on the sale of adulterated food items, especially milk-based products like paneer, khoya, mawa, and other common items such as oils and spices, which often see a rise in demand during the festival.
Raids have been conducted in areas like Maner, Sabalpur, Danapur, Bihta, Fatuha, and Khusrupur. According to officials, the surge in demand for dairy products during Holi often leads unscrupulous traders to adulterate the products to boost profits.
Ajay Kumar, a food safety officer (FSO), revealed that the seized paneer contained less than 28% fat content, which is below the 50% fat requirement specified by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). “This is a clear violation,” he stated. “Paneer made from milk should contain at least 50% fat. When fat content is low, it must be labeled as low-fat. Moreover, paneer made from milk powder, which lacks fat, is often mixed with harmful fats like ghee or palm oil to compensate, making it unsafe for consumption.”
The FSO also pointed out that adulterated mawa, which should only be made from milk, is sometimes mixed with starch from potatoes or sweet potatoes, while low-quality mustard oil is often blended with palm oil. Additionally, harmful substances like ammonium nitrate are being added to oils.
In response, the administration is running an anti-adulteration campaign, ‘Ruco,’ which checks the quality of cooking oils in restaurants and hotels. The food safety team uses specialized equipment to test the quality of oil, as heating palm oil can degrade its quality, leading to serious health issues.
These stringent measures highlight the efforts to ensure public health and safety during the festival season, with a particular focus on preventing the sale of contaminated food products.