Officials collect samples of paneer

Kapurthala, July 30

Under the ‘Mission Tandrust’, a drive against adulterated food, was conducted in the district on Friday. The team was headed by Harjot Pal Singh, Assistant Commissioner, along with Mukul Gill, Food Safety Officer.

The team took samples from a vehicle carrying 110-kg cheese (paneer) after intercepting it at Bhullarai Chowk, Phagwara. The cheese was shipped from Dhaliwal Dairy, Qadian, and was to be sold in markets for Rs 180 per kg. It’s pertinent to mention that paneer is usually sold in the market at a minimum rate Rs 260 per kg. Two samples of cheese were taken on the spot.

Harjot said, “As per regulation 2.1.1.1 of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards &Food Additives) Thirteenth Amendment Regulations, 2017, milk product shall not contain any substance not found in milk unless specified in these regulations. As per regulation 2.1.16, paneer is the product, which should contain milk fat minimum 50 per cent of the dry matter and maximum moisture of 60 per cent.”

He said, “All sweet shop owners and other food businessmen dealing in milk and milk products have been strictly directed to prepare paneer and khoya at their own premises. — TNS