Festive Fears: Food Authority Busts Rackets Selling Fake Paneer, Contaminated Milk in UP & Jharkhand

As the festive season nears, bringing with it a surge in demand for sweets and dairy-based delicacies, a worrying revelation has surfaced from two major Indian states. In a sweeping crackdown, food safety authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand have busted rackets producing and selling fake paneer and adulterated milk, raising serious concerns over public health and food safety.

Operation Festive Purity: Massive Raids Across States

In anticipation of increased dairy consumption during festivals like Raksha Bandhan and Janmashtami, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in collaboration with local food departments launched an intensive drive to test and inspect milk and dairy products.

Surprise raids were carried out at multiple dairy units, sweet shops, and wholesale suppliers across districts such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi (UP) and Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur (Jharkhand).

The findings were deeply disturbing.

What Was Found? Fake Paneer, Detergent-Laced Milk & More

Uttar Pradesh:

• In Kanpur, over 500 kg of fake paneer was seized from a manufacturing unit operating in unhygienic conditions.
• The product was being made using refined oil, synthetic agents, starch, and harmful preservatives, molded to resemble real paneer.
• In Lucknow, samples of milk were found laced with detergent, urea, and caustic soda — chemicals known to cause serious kidney, liver, and digestive damage.

Jharkhand:

• In Ranchi, authorities seized more than 1,200 liters of substandard milk unfit for consumption.
• Some samples tested positive for washing powder residues, confirming that diluted and chemically enhanced milk was being circulated in local markets.
• In Jamshedpur, fake paneer made using solidified vegetable fats and industrial starch was found being delivered to local sweet shops.

Why This Spike in Adulteration?

With dairy products forming the core of many festive foods — from rasgullas and kalakand to paneer pakoras and kheer — the demand skyrockets during this time of year. Unscrupulous manufacturers exploit this boom by producing cheap, unsafe imitations to maximize profits.

According to FSSAI officials, adulteration typically increases by up to 30% during the festive months, especially in urban and semi-urban centers with high footfall at sweet shops and dairy counters.

Health Hazards of These Adulterants

The consumption of such synthetic and chemical-laden food items poses immediate and long-term health threats:

• Urea and caustic soda: Can lead to kidney failure, ulcers, and digestive tract erosion.
• Detergents: Cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Synthetic paneer: Lacks protein and calcium, and contains toxins that may impair liver function.

Doctors and nutritionists have warned that children, the elderly, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to these contaminants.

Authorities Speak Out: Swift Action and Warnings

A senior FSSAI official stated:

“These operations are not just preventive but punitive. Legal action is being taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act, and several units are being shut down permanently.”

Authorities are also urging consumers to:

• Buy from trusted vendors
• Check for FSSAI licenses
• Avoid white, rubbery paneer that feels synthetic
• Boil milk before use and conduct simple home tests for adulterants

Consumer Vigilance: The Need of the Hour

While the crackdown is a crucial step, experts agree that consumer awareness and vigilance are essential to win the battle against food fraud. Simple tests at home — like mixing milk with water to check for separation or rubbing paneer between fingers to spot oiliness — can act as the first line of defense.

Celebrate Safe, Eat Safe

As the festive season approaches and kitchens begin to buzz with preparations, the message from health authorities is loud and clear:

“Let joy be pure, not just your sweets. Choose health over haste.”