Odisha food safety raids seize 400 kg of adulterated dairy

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has conducted a series of enforcement drives against the sale of adulterated and substandard dairy products in Odisha. During inspections on August 20 and 21, officials seized and destroyed nearly 400 kg of suspected spurious milk products, including paneer, chhena, khoa, and rabri, as well as expired milk packets.

Raids targeted various manufacturing units, hotels, and restaurants across areas such as Aga Sahi, Khaspa Street, and SNT Road. Preliminary findings suggest some traders were mixing maida and other powdery substances into dairy products to increase profits. One restaurant was fined Rs. 12,000 for violating food safety norms after officials found stale food containing adulterated paneer.

The crackdown has triggered significant consumer anxiety in the Twin City region, including Bhubaneswar and Cuttack. Many residents have expressed a loss of trust in restaurant hygiene, with some reporting they have stopped consuming paneer altogether due to safety concerns. While food business operators have welcomed the enforcement against violators, they expressed concern over the impact on general customer confidence.