Industrial Acid, Palm Oil Found in Paneer Seized in Surat

Surat | Gujarat — A major food safety scare has shaken Surat after laboratory tests confirmed that 1,400 kg of cheese seized from Pandesara was not only fake but potentially dangerous for consumption. The investigation by the Surat Municipal Corporation has revealed shocking adulteration practices, including the use of vegetable oil and industrial-grade acid, raising serious public health concerns.

The samples, collected on March 3 from Bhidbhanjan Society in Pandesara, failed laboratory standards and were officially declared sub-standard.

Palm Oil Instead of Milk Fat

Food Safety Officer D.K. Thakar confirmed that the lab report showed extremely low milk fat content in the seized cheese. Instead, tests detected beta-sitosterol, a marker indicating large-scale mixing of palm oil.

“This product cannot be considered real cheese. It is an adulterated imitation that poses health risks,” a food department official said.

Authorities have now initiated strict legal action against the accused.

Industrial Acid Raises Health Alarm

The investigation took a disturbing turn when officials discovered that industrial-grade acetic acid was used to curdle the product instead of food-grade citric acid.

Health experts warn that prolonged consumption of such chemicals can trigger serious illnesses including kidney failure and colon cancer.

Police say the accused, Mahesh Sharma, used chemical acid to cut costs and boost profits.

Fake License Used to Run Illegal Factory

Investigators uncovered a deceptive licensing strategy. Sharma possessed an FSSAI licence registered in Vasai, Maharashtra, but was illegally running a manufacturing unit in Surat.

Officials said the license was used as a shield to mislead authorities and avoid inspections.

“This was a clear attempt to bypass food safety regulations,” an officer involved in the probe said.

What Was Being Sold as Paneer?

The seized product turned out to be analog cheese—a mixture of palm oil, milk powder and water, processed with machinery to mimic real cheese in texture and appearance.

Because it looked identical to genuine paneer, customers had no way to detect the fraud.

Sold at Half the Market Price

The gang reportedly sold the fake cheese for ₹180–₹220 per kg, while real paneer costs ₹400–₹450. Experts note that producing 1 kg of genuine cheese requires 6–7 litres of milk, making such low prices a major red flag.

Two-Year Supply Network Exposed

According to police, the accused had been operating for two years, producing nearly 400 kg daily and supplying small dairies, street vendors and hotels across the city. High-tech machinery worth ₹28 lakh was seized during the raid.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajdeepsinh Nakum warned, “Thousands of kilos of this adulterated cheese may already have been consumed by residents.”