Chandigarh: The UT health department uncovered a significant public health threat, seizing a massive 450 kg consignment of fake paneer last month. The food analysis report from the Food Analyst Laboratory, authorised by the FSSAI, confirmed the product contained no dairy item. Instead, it revealed a dangerous concoction of low-quality vegetable oil, including palm oil, starch, detergents, and other synthetic additives, rendering it entirely unfit for human consumption.The large-scale operation was initiated following a crucial tip-off. Health department officials raided a locality in Bapu Dham, catching trucks in the act of unloading the illicit product. Dr Suman Singh, director health services, UT, said, “They came from Kaithal in Haryana, where the synthetic paneer was stored in Bapu Dham to be distributed in the city. This has been the largest seizure of a synthetic milk product in the city so far.“The seized samples were rigorously tested at the city’s food and chemical analysis laboratory, adhering strictly to FSSAI regulations. The recently released report unequivocally confirmed the presence of harmful substances like detergents, various oils, and synthetic additives, underscoring the severe health risks posed by consuming such products.As per FSSAI, there is no ban on analogue paneer, and the sellers are directed to label it as analogue while selling. However, the paneer that was seized was not only synthetic but also found unfit for human consumption due to an excessive amount of detergent and substandard oils. The safety standards were not met in the synthetic food item.“The case is in the court. Such cases, when proved, result in severe penalties including imprisonment,” said an official in the UT health department.
