Agra — In a late-night enforcement operation, Uttar Pradesh’s food safety authorities uncovered a large-scale adulteration racket in Agra, where paneer (Indian cottage cheese) was being manufactured using palm oil, diluted milk and industrial chemicals. Officials seized more than five quintals of counterfeit paneer and recommended suspension of multiple dairy licences as investigators examine how such an operation flourished in densely populated areas for years.
The raid took place on Tuesday night after a tip-off suggested that adulterated dairy products were being transported into the city from nearby Khairagarh. At around 2 a.m. on the Fatehabad Road stretch, inspectors intercepted a motorized loader carrying drums stacked with what appeared to be paneer. The consignment, swarming with insects and dirt, was immediately deemed unsafe and destroyed on the spot.
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According to Assistant Commissioner (Food) S.S.H. Abdi, the shipment was traced back to Kanha Dairy in Khairagarh’s Nagla Dhania locality. The operator, Sunil Kumar, reportedly admitted to manufacturing paneer by blending separated milk, palm oil and unspecified chemical agents before supplying it to local dairies at a profit.
Second Raid Uncovers Stock in Registered Shop
Following the confession, a team raided another dairy in Tajganj’s Hajjoopura locality, where officials discovered 90 kilograms of suspected adulterated paneer stored inside a commercial deep freezer. This stock was also destroyed. Authorities recommended immediate suspension of Kanha Dairy’s licence, pending a larger investigation into supply chains and regulatory lapses.
Officials said the adulterated paneer was being produced for approximately ₹150 per kilogram and sold to urban dairies for ₹220 per kilogram, which then retailed it at ₹320–₹350 per kilogram, capitalizing on heightened seasonal demand during the wedding and festival period.
A Market Fueled by Seasonal Demand
Food inspectors noted that demand for milk, paneer and khoya typically spikes threefold during the wedding season (“sahalag”). Adulteration rackets often operate overnight, preparing batches in four to five hours to meet bulk orders placed by dairies and sweet shops.
In this case, investigators allege that the producers not only catered to local buyers but also supplied to neighbouring districts.
How to Identify Fake Paneer at Home
Authorities shared four public-safety indicators to help consumers detect adulteration:
Texture Test: Fake paneer crumbles easily when pressed.
Smell Test: Real paneer carries a natural milk aroma; fake versions lack it.
Detergent Test: Paneer turning red when sprinkled with dal powder after boiling may indicate detergent.
Starch Test: Iodine solution turning the paneer blue or black suggests added starch.
Health Risks and Regulatory Action
Health officials warn that consuming paneer made from chemicals, detergents, or industrial oils can cause severe digestive problems, food poisoning, liver and kidney damage, and long-term risk of ulceration, diabetes or even cancer. Children are considered particularly vulnerable.
Legal experts note that under India’s updated penal framework — including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Food Safety and Standards Act — food adulteration can lead to six months to life imprisonment depending on the extent of harm caused.
A Network Hidden in Plain Sight
Residents living near the clandestine unit said they had no knowledge of illegal dairy operations. The facility carried no signboard, remained locked except during tanker movement and operated with tight internal control. Officials are now examining whether members of the local supply department had links to the operators, after preliminary inquiry suggested suspicious proximity between staff and the accused.
The arrested individuals were released on bail within 24 hours, prompting questions over the speed of proceedings and the severity of charges invoked. The food department has begun reviewing all licences, documents and trade permissions tied to the implicated dairy units.
Authorities say further action — including cancellation of licences and potential arrest of additional participants — will depend on laboratory results from the collected samples currently under examinati
