Berhampur: Food safety officers have seized over 350 kg of adulterated milk products like paneer, chhena, khoa and rabidi from different outlets, lassi stalls and restaurants in the silk city in the last two days. The officials have imposed a Rs 12,000 fine on the owner of a popular restaurant here, after they found around 10 kg of stale and prepared food with adulterated paneer on Friday.“We raided around a dozen lassi stalls in SNT Road, Girija Square on Friday. Around 300 kg of adulterated milk products have been destroyed,” said Liza Mishra, food safety officer in Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC). All the seized items have been destroyed, she said.On Thursday, BeMC seized around 60 kg of adulterated paneer, chhena and khoa from five outlets in Aga street and Khapsa street. Besides, they also destroyed around 25 expired milk packets of 500 ml each, she said.Samples were collected and sent to the laboratory for detailed chemical testing. Food safety officers said legal action would be initiated after receipt of laboratory reports.Preliminary inquiry has revealed that the paneer, khoa and chhena were adulterated by mixing maida and some other powder substances to reduce the cost of the actual product. The raids will continue in the city, she added.
