BHUBANESWAR/CUTTACK : Ahead of the festive season, the state government has intensified food safety inspections across Twin City Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, leading to the seizure of around 72 quintal suspected adulterated paneer worth over `18 lakh along with 66 kg stale, unhygienic food over the past two days.
Food Safety commissioner Poma Tudu had asked officials to strengthen enforcement activities against food safety violations and initiate appropriate legal action against establishments.
Officials said, a joint enforcement team of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC), led by health officer Nupendra Satpathy, conducted raids on August 18 and 19 after routine food safety checks in the CDA area revealed the presence of around one quintal suspected adulterated paneer at a hotel. Further inquiry revealed the paneer was being supplied through autorickshaws and sourced from Niali area.
The CMC food safety wing then carried out joint raids at several locations, including Press Chhak and Link Road railway line area, where traders allegedly parked vehicles and supplied adulterated paneer to different shops and hotels through autorickshaws.
Around 66 kg of stale, unhygienic food seized in last two days
Around 71 quintal adulterated paneer worth `17.75 lakh was seized with the help of police during the raids. The seized stock was transported to the dumping yard at Satichaura. Samples were collected and sent to a laboratory for detailed chemical analysis, said an official.
“We conducted rapid iodine test, which confirmed that the bundles of paneer wrapped in clothes were adulterated. The adulterated paneer would have been supplied to different hotels and sweet stalls by the traders,” said CMC Food Safety officer Rashmita Behera.
The traders involved in collecting and transporting adulterated paneer from Niali to Cuttack have revealed the source, where the food item was adulterated with maida, arrowroot and palmolein oil. Their statements have been recorded, she added.
Meanwhile, joint raids were also conducted at multiple locations in Bhubaneswar. FSSAI designated officer Pratikshya Das Mahapatra said around one quintal adulterated paneer was seized during raids on a supplier and a shop on the back side of Rabindra Mandap in Unit-IV on Thursday evening.
Though the food item looked fresh, initial tests confirmed it to be adulterated. Samples have been collected for lab test for further confirmation. The crackdown on adulterators will continue, she said.
Food safety officials said around 66 kg stale and unhygienic food have also been seized during the inspections in the last two days and 10 samples have been collected for testing.
Six food establishments in the capital city have been served closure notices, while samples collected during the inspections have been sent for laboratory testing, following safety inspections at Nexus Esplanade in Rasulgarh, Symphony Mall at Hanspal and DN Regalia at Patrapada. Food stalls in CRPF, Rasulgarh and Kalinganagar areas were also raided.