Surat Busts Fake Paneer Racket: SOG Seizes 250+ Kg Adulterated Dairy Products

Surat | Gujarat — When you buy paneer or sweets from the sweetmeat shops or provision stores in the diamond city of Surat, exercise caution.  In a recent development, authorities have uncovered a case of counterfeit paneer in the Udhana and Magob areas of Surat, raising concerns among the city’s discerning food enthusiasts. 

The Surat City Special Operation Group (SOG) and the Food and Safety Department of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) joined forces to take a strong stance against those undermining the health of the residents in Surat city.  In a significant operation, authorities conducted raids in two distinct areas of the city within a single day, successfully confiscating suspected counterfeit cheese and adulterated mawa valued at thousands of rupees, preventing them from reaching the market.

Concerns arise as ‘analog cheese’ is discovered at ‘Shriji Provision Store’ in Udhana.

In a recent development, the Surat SOG police, under the leadership of J.M. Desai and T.S. Patel from the Food and Safety Department of Surat Municipal Corporation, have established a surveillance operation in the Udhna area.  A search took place at “Shriji Provision Store” (Shop No. 1) located in Jyotinagar Society, Patel Colony, Udhna village.

Authorities discovered 70 kg of Malai Paneer alongside 10 kg of analogue Paneer.

Authorities confiscated 80 kg of suspected paneer valued at Rs. 26,900 and 168 kg of sweet making paste (mawa) worth Rs. 34,953 from a residence in Magob.  Approximately 70 kg of Malai Paneer and 10 kg of analogue Paneer were discovered in the shop, identified as being produced from low-quality milk and palm oil.  The owner of the provision store, Navalkishore Motiram Garg, has been apprehended by the SOG.  The investigation centers around why the municipality’s Food and Safety Department is not notified when the police receive such serious information.  The local authorities have collected samples of paneer and paste and dispatched them for analysis.

Authorities have confiscated 168 kg of questionable paste from an apartment in Pune-Magob.

In addition to paneer, it has come to light that the paste utilized in sweets is also subject to adulteration.  S.O.G.  Following a new lead, the Food Officer of the Municipal Corporation, D.D. Thakor, carried out a raid in the Pune area.  A fraudulent scheme was discovered in the residential zone of Building No. G-1, Flat No. 23 at “Priyanka City” in Magob.  A significant amount of questionable mawa, typically used in sweet-making, was discovered during a search of the residence belonging to flat owner Hanuman Ladhuram Bishnoi.  The estimated total value of this mawa stands at Rs. 34,953.  Concerns have been raised regarding the potential health risks posed by questionable mawa, particularly during periods of heightened demand for sweets, whether during festivals or on regular days.

Vigilance against those who compromise individuals’ well-being

For five years, they operated a business by constructing a storage facility for mawa in a rented apartment.

The SOG team carried out an inspection at Priyanka CT’s residence in Magob, Puna, uncovering 168 kg of mawa valued at Rs 34,953, along with 30 kg of spoiled mawa that was subsequently destroyed by the municipality on-site.  Hanuman Ladhuram Binnoi, hailing from Rajasthan, has been operating this venture by establishing a godown for mawa in a rented flat for the past five years.  This mawa hails from Rajasthan and Varachha, priced at Rs 170 per kg.  Hanuman Binnoi distributed this mawa in bulk to 25 locations, covering small dairies and sweet shops in various working areas such as Pandesara, Adajan, Varachha, Mota Varachha, Amroli, and Bhestan.  225 per kilogram.

A cold storage unit, measuring 8 feet by 10 feet, was also present in the shop.

Reports indicate that the paneer in question was acquired at a cost of Rs. 180 per kg. The proprietor of the provision store, Navalkishore Garg, reportedly sold this cheese primarily to caterers for events such as weddings, at prices ranging from Rs. 240 to Rs. 260.  A cold storage unit, measuring 8 feet by 10 feet, was installed in the shop to accommodate a substantial amount of this cheese.  This situation highlights the critical issue of food adulteration in Surat city, necessitating more stringent measures from the municipality.

Legal measures will be pursued if the substances are determined to be contaminated.

Goods valued in the lakhs of rupees have been confiscated during these two operations.  Authorities have taken action by sealing the suspected Malai Paneer, Analog Paneer, and suspected Mawa.  All the samples have been dispatched for examination to determine the potential risks associated with these food items and to identify any adulterants present.  Authorities have announced that should these items be deemed inedible or contaminated following the laboratory report, stringent legal measures will be enforced against the shopkeepers and vendors involved.  The recent actions taken by the Surat Police and the municipality have sparked significant attention regarding adulteration.  Residents are encouraged to verify the quality of food products.

What is the process behind creating imitation Paneer?

Ingredients such as spoiled milk, flour, detergent powder, palm oil, and glycerol monostearate powder are combined to produce imitation Paneer.  In addition to this, sulfuric acid is utilized in imitation cheese, allowing it to take on a form similar to that of genuine cheese.  These factors can have detrimental effects on the body.

What are the ways to spot imitation cheese?

Ordinary individuals lack access to laboratories or equipment that can determine the authenticity of paneer.  The surge in the counterfeit paneer market in the country can be attributed to this reason, yet you can also discern authentic paneer from the comfort of your home.  The simplest method to achieve this is by using your hands to crush it.  As a result, the imitation and contaminated paneer will turn into powder, since that powder is derived from milk, whereas authentic paneer maintains a softer texture.