Gandhinagar, August 7: In Gujarat, food safety officials have destroyed over 1,700 kilograms of counterfeit dairy products, including analog cheese and butter, following a ban on their production, sale, storage, transport, and distribution. This action was part of a two-day operation that took place on August 6 and 7.
The Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) conducted surprise inspections at 842 commercial establishments across the state under the directives of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghvi, and Health Minister Prabhul Panseria.
According to the FDCA, inspection teams seized and destroyed 1,705 kilograms of analog cheese and dairy products deemed adulterated and harmful to public health. The estimated value of the destroyed goods is approximately ₹5.28 lakh.
The largest seizure occurred on August 6 in the Vadodara Municipal Corporation area, where officials destroyed 471 kilograms of dairy analog products worth around ₹1.5 lakh. In Surat, officials destroyed over ₹58,000 worth of 235 kilograms of similar products, while Rajkot saw the destruction of over ₹30,000 worth of 115 kilograms.
On August 7, the most significant seizure took place in Junagadh district, where authorities destroyed 585 kilograms of dairy analog products valued at over ₹2.04 lakh. Surat Municipal Corporation also destroyed 27 kilograms of goods worth ₹6,750, and Jamnagar Municipal Corporation destroyed 29 kilograms valued at ₹6,500.
Health Minister Prabhul Panseria stated that the state government has adopted a ‘zero tolerance’ policy against traders who adulterate food products. He emphasized that there will be no negligence regarding public health. Any trader or manufacturer selling analog products under the guise of milk, cheese, or paneer will not be spared.
Panseria also instructed hotels, restaurants, and food businesses to use only pure and certified food products. He announced that the FDCA will continue its inspection and enforcement campaign across the state in the coming days.
The Gujarat government has decided to ban analog dairy products after several months of investigation revealed that these products were being sold or used instead of genuine dairy items. Earlier this year, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) directed food businesses not to sell cheese analog products as paneer. Restaurants using such products must clearly inform customers through menus or display boards.
Analog cheese is a non-dairy alternative typically made from vegetable fats and other ingredients instead of milk.
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