Cuttack Municipal Corporation files complaint over adulterated paneer

The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) Health Department has filed a police complaint against 11 individuals following the discovery of adulterated paneer. The complaint was lodged at the Madhupatna police station after laboratory results confirmed the presence of detergent powder, maida, and starch powder in seized dairy samples.

During an enforcement operation, authorities seized approximately 73 quintals of paneer, which had reportedly been transported from Niali to Cuttack. While 17 quintals of the stock were destroyed, other samples were sent to a laboratory in Haryana for detailed analysis. The findings suggest that the adulterants were used to increase the weight of the product and alter its texture to make it appear softer and smoother.

The investigation involves 11 people, including vendors and small-scale farmers. This incident has raised significant food safety concerns across Odisha, where paneer is a widely consumed staple.