FSSAI Raid Uncovers Adulterated Paneer Production in Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Dehradun, 29th June 2024: Today, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) team raided a paneer manufacturing plant in Haripur Kalan Village in Dehradun district, where they discovered paneer being produced using acetic acid and palm oil. Five samples of suspicious food items have been sent to the laboratory for testing, and all identified adulterated food items were promptly destroyed on-site. District Designated Officer of FSSAI PC Joshi reported that an FSSAI team raided the plant. They seized 80 kg of arrowroot, 60 kg of acetic acid, and 20 litres of palm oil used in the paneer manufacturing process. Businessman Pankaj Tripathi acknowledged his mistake and ensured the immediate destruction of all suspicious adulterated food items.

Earlier, samples of these items were collected for testing. The team included Deputy Commissioner of FSSAI for Garhwal Division, RS Rawat, Designated Officer PC Joshi from Dehradun, Designated Officer MS Joshi from Haridwar, Senior Food Safety Officer Ramesh Singh, and Food Safety Officers Vipin Jain, Dilip Jain, Balwant Singh Chauhan, Sanjay Negi, and Yogendra Negi from FSSAI Vigilance.

This incident of adulteration occurring openly along the Char Dham Yatra route has drawn significant attention. The discovery of fake paneer in large quantities at the Haripurkalan plant exposes a deeper issue. This adulterated paneer was being supplied to hotels and dhabas along the Yatra route. Sources indicate that it’s more than just paneer; milk, spices, and adulterated rice are also reportedly being supplied without scrutiny. The demand for food items along the Yatra route is high, leading to the proliferation of fake and adulterated products.

Health Minister of Uttarakhand Dhan Singh Rawat has already instructed continuous investigation campaigns in response to these concerns. Despite the Char Dham Yatra has been underway for about two months, only one establishment involved in producing fake paneer has been identified. However, there are suspicions of over a dozen other establishments between Haridwar and Raiwala engaging in similar practices. Further investigations could reveal more about this issue.