Kataka: The civic authorities in Odisha’s Kataka on Monday filed a police complaint against eleven people over the alleged sale of adulterated paneer after laboratory tests detected maida, and detergent in seized samples.
According to sources, the complaint was filed by the Health Department of Kataka Municipal Corporation at Madhupatna police station after the test reports of samples collected from 73 quintals of seized paneer were received. The people named in the complaint include some small-scale farmers and vendors.
The issue came to light after authorities seized over 73 quintals of cheese and paneer from 11 traders during an inspection. The dairy products were reportedly brought to Kataka city from Niali area.
Around 17 quintals of the seized stock were destroyed, while samples were sent to a laboratory in Haryana for testing.
The laboratory report found detergent powder, maida and starch powder in the paneer. According to the report, the substances were allegedly being used to make the paneer softer and smoother and to increase its weight.
The findings raised concerns over the safety of dairy products being sold in Kataka and other parts of Odisha. The alleged adulteration also raised concerns over possible health risks for consumers.
