A serious food safety violation has come to light in Surat, Gujarat, where authorities have uncovered an illegal factory involved in the production of fake paneer on a large scale.
According to initial findings, the unit was producing approximately 400 kilograms of paneer per day without using any real milk. Instead, the product was being made using palm oil, milk solid powder, water, and chemical substances, making it unsafe for consumption and not compliant with food safety standards.
Officials revealed that the fake paneer was primarily supplied to street food vendors and roadside eateries, where it was unknowingly consumed by the general public.
During the investigation, it was also discovered that the operator had obtained a license from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for a different location, while the actual manufacturing was being carried out elsewhere, which is a clear violation of regulatory norms.
Preliminary estimates suggest that nearly 300,000 kilograms (3 lakh kg) of fake paneer may have been distributed in the market over the past two years.
Authorities have initiated legal action, and further investigation into the case is currently underway.
