Drive against spurious milk in Punjab

A day after Punjab Government warned those indulging in making spurious and adulterated milk and milk products in the state, various Food Safety Teams has unearthed hoards of spurious milk and milk products (MMP) in Amritsar and Mohali. The teams have also collected samples from Mansa, Pathankot, Jalandhar and Gurdaspur.

“In two different raids at Amritsar, the Food Safety Teams seized substantial amount of spurious milk and milk products. Amritsar’s food safety team, accompanied by the concerned SHO, conducted a raid at Gill Dairy in Gonsawal village from where 58 bags of skimmed milk powder of low quality, each weighing 25 kg, seven quintals of desi ghee, 40 kg curd, 20 kg paneer, and 30 kg adulterated milk was seized,” said the state Food and Drug Administration commissioner KS Pannu.

He said that the samples of desi ghee, skimmed milk powder, paneer, milk and curd, suspected to be prepared from adulterants, have been sent for analysis to Kharar Food Lab, and the dairy has been sealed while an FIR has been registered under section 272, 273, 336 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code against the culprits.

He said that another dairy, Pannu Dairy, was also raided from where the team seized 74 bags of skimmed milk powder ,18 quintal desi ghee, 35 kg paneer, 150  kg curd and 150 kg adulterated milk.The dairy has been sealed and samples sent for analysis, he said.

During another raid in a paneer factory in Balomajra village in Mohali, 20.60 quintals of paneer and 135 bags of skimmed milk powder was seized and samples of paneer, desi ghee, cream, butter, khoya and skimmed milk powder have been sent to Lab.

“The factory does not has a license. The police team has arrested Ashok Kumar, who is running the business of fake dairy products and a charge sheet, under section 272, 273 and 420 of IPC has been registered at Police Station Balongi. Involvement of some other persons is likely to be disclosed from Ashok Kumar,” said a spokesperson.

It has been learnt that the fake cheese, ghee and other dairy items prepared at Ballomajra village were supplied to Chandigarh including Kharar, Kurali, SAS Nagar, Dera Bassi, Rajpura and nearby towns.

Mansa’s team seized 1.5 quintal of patisa, on receiving secret information, which was being supplied at very low cost of Rs 40 per kg. The same has also been sent for analysis.

Earlier in the morning, joint raid was conducted by Dairy Department and CIA staff Barnala at paneer and khoya manufacturing unit at Neem Wala Mor village of Barnala Tehsil. “Samples of paneer, khoya, cream and milk were taken. No visible objectionable item was found on the spot. The samples were collected for further analysis,” he said.

A raid was also conducted at paneer manufacturing unit at Chandila village of Fatehgarh Sahib district where about 100 kg stock of paneer was lying. Also vehicles carrying milk were intercepted. Samples of paneer and milk were taken.

Sampling of milk and milk products was also done in Pathankot along with dairy department. Private buses coming from Delhi side were inspected by the team.

Jalandhar Food team intercepted a vehicle carrying about one quintal paneer coming from Gurdaspur at Choti Baradari area. A premises at residential area of Golden Avenue was also inspected and about two quintals of paneer  and about 50 kg dahi kept for sale were found.

Samples of milk were also taken from other milk vendors at Mai Heera gate and were sent to the state lab for analysis.

Taking a strong note of the development, the state Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Tuesday directed to take strict action against the culprits.

He also directed to conduct raids at suspicious locations, so that food adulterations could be tackled effectively.

At the same time, Sidhu warned the persons involved in food adulterations to stop spoiling the health of general public otherwise there will be no chance of their escape.