Pune: The crime branch of the Pune city police along with food and drugs department officials on Friday raided an illegal paneer manufacturing unit in Manjri Khurd. They seized 1,400 kg of adulterated paneer worth Rs 11,56,690. The raid was initiated after Police were alerted about production and distribution of substandard dairy products being operated from Manik Nagar. The Authorities discovered unhygienic production practices and use of harmful chemicals/ synthetic ingredients to manufacture Paneer. Authorities seized 1,400 kg paneer, 400 kg GMS powder, 1800 kg SMP powder, 718 liters of pam oil total products worth Rs 11,56,690.
The sale of adulterated products double up in the market as the festivities approach. During festivals like Diwali, Holi, Raksha Bandhan, and Eid etc, markets are filled with adulterated dairy products. These products pose a great risk to health of consumers.
While the authorities carry efforts to reduce the sale of adulterated dairy products, by carrying search operation or raid at shops; this doesn’t solve things completely. Synthetic ingredients are used by shopkeepers to deceive the buyers.
How To Check For Adulteration In Dairy Products
However, there are few things that buyers can keep in mind to safeguard themselves from adulterated dairy products and sweets. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has issued list of few tests that one can conduct to check for adulterants in foods. FSSAI is an organization which regulates the manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import of food articles, while also establishing standards to ensure food safety.
For Milk And Milk Products
Detection Of Water In Milk
Testing method: Put a drop of milk on polished slanting surface, pure milk either stays or flows slowly and leaves a trail, while the adulterated milk will flow immediately without any mark.
Detection of Detergent In Milk
For detecting detergent in milk, take 5-10 ml of milk with an equal amount of water, after that shake the milk properly. If there is detergent in milk, a dense lather will be formed while in the pure milk, a thin layer will be formed.
Detection Of Starch In Milk And Milk Products (Khoya, Chenna, Paneer)
To test starch in milk products, boil 2-3 ml of sample with 3 ml of water. Let it cool down and then add 2-3 drops of tincture of iodine. If the sample turns blue, it indicates presence of starch.
Detection Of Mashed Potatoes, Other Starches In Ghee, Butter
Take half teaspoon of ghee and butter in a transparent bowl, add 2-3 drops of tincture of iodine. Blue colour will indicate the presence of starch.
Detection Of Chalk Powder In Sugar, Pithi Sugar, Jaggery
Take transparent glass of water, dissolve 10 gram of sample in water. If the chalk is mixed in ample, the adulterant will settle down in the bottom.
