GURGAON: Nearly 7.6 tonnes of paneer was destroyed after a joint inspection of four paneer-making units in Nuh’s Punhana area allegedly found the food stored in unhygienic conditions, along with materials such as fabric whitener, industrial-grade bleaching agents and poster white colour on the premises.The action, ordered by Nuh deputy commissioner Akhil Pilani, was carried out by the food safety department along with police, revenue officials and Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) personnel.Three units near the Gurgaon canal in Gaudhola village were inspected during the drive. Officials found around 7,600kg of paneer kept in dirty containers and on unhygienic platforms.Given the potential public-health risk, the entire stock was destroyed at the spot by burying it in a pit to prevent it from re-entering the food chain.Besides paneer, officials found fabric whitener, an industrial-grade bleaching agent, refined palm oil, soybean and poster white colour at the premises.The presence of these materials does not by itself establish that they were used in paneer production, but officials collected food samples for laboratory testing.The samples from the inspected units have been packed, sealed and labelled as per procedure and will be sent to a laboratory. Further action under the Food Safety and Standards Act and other applicable provisions will depend on the test reports.The inspection also uncovered an environmental concern. Officials found wastewater and other effluents from the units allegedly being discharged into the canal. HSPCB officials have initiated action and are examining the alleged violation of pollution-control norms.The three units inspected in Gaudhola were operational when the teams arrived, but no owner, manager or food-business operator was present at any of the premises, according to the administration.Another paneer-making unit in Nai village was also inspected during the campaign.The joint operation brings two separate public-health concerns into focus: the safety of food being manufactured for consumers and the environmental cost of its production.While the destroyed paneer was considered unfit for consumption because of the conditions in which it was found, laboratory tests will establish whether the sampled food also contained any prohibited or unsafe substances.Officials said action against the units would follow the laboratory findings and the outcome of the pollution-control inquiry.“We will continue joint action against units found violating food-safety and environmental norms,” said DC.
