In a major pre-Diwali crackdown, the Food Safety Department (FSD) seized over 700 kg of suspected analogue paneer worth around 2.50 lakh outside Bhopal railway station in the early hours of Tuesday. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Food Safety officials swooped down at around 2 am as the consignment arrived by train from Morena. The paneer, packed in bulk, was intercepted before it could enter the city’s markets ahead of the festive rush.

 

The Department is on high alert across the State to ensure the quality of festive food items. Officials registered a case under the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act on the basis of the transport bilty and bills found with the consignment. While laboratory confirmation is still awaited, the Department is treating the stock as analogue paneer for further action. Samples will be sent for testing. The seizure marks the first such major enforcement action in Madhya Pradesh since the State banned the production, sale and consumption of analogue paneer on August 12. Madhya Pradesh became the fourth State after Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Gujarat to impose the ban over health concerns. Further Investigation is now focused on tracing the supply chain.

 

Officials are trying to identify the hotels, restaurants and dairies in Bhopal that were to receive the shipment, and the operation was still underway on Wednesday morning. The incident has revived concerns over festive adulteration despite the ban. The National Human Rights Commission had flagged the sale of analogue paneer three months ago and decided to write to Madhya Pradesh and other states on the issue. Since the ban, the Food and Drug Administration has seized 10,464 kg of analogue paneer across districts including Indore, Bhopal, Gwalior and Morena. In the last year alone, 2,808 kg of analogue paneer worth 8.5 lakh and 47,473 kg of other analogue food items worth 2.6 crore have been seized in the state. Analogue paneer, made from vegetable fats and starch instead of milk, is cheaper and in high demand during festivals. Further action will be taken based on the lab report and the ongoing investigation.