Pune food safety authorities seized and destroyed 10,888 kg of suspected unsafe paneer and khava during a festive-season enforcement drive, after finding concerns related to temperature control, packaging and hygiene at multiple locations across the city.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted inspections from 6 am on Monday at Bavdhan, Kasba Peth and Bibwewadi. Officials examined three vehicles carrying paneer from Karnataka and also found a stock of khava at Shivshankar Dairy near the Dagde Pool area in Kasba Peth.
The seized stock was valued at Rs 31,06,680. The FDA said the perishable products were destroyed because they were suspected to be unsafe for human consumption and could not be retained safely. Further action has been initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act.
At Bavdhan, officials found 3,520 kg of paneer in one vehicle, valued at Rs 10.56 lakh. A second vehicle inspected in Kasba Peth contained 3,235 kg of paneer worth Rs 8,03,220, while 3,413 kg valued at Rs 10,31,460 was found in a third vehicle in Bibwewadi.
The inspection at Shivshankar Dairy found 720 kg of khava valued at Rs 2.16 lakh. Together, the three paneer consignments and the khava stock accounted for 10.88 tonnes of dairy products.
According to the FDA, the products were not being transported or stored at suitable temperatures. Officials also found that some low-fat and medium-fat paneer, which is expected to be sold in sealed packaging, had been kept for sale in the open and in unhygienic conditions.
The action comes as demand rises for sweets, mawa, khava, paneer and other dairy products during Navratri and Vijayadashami. The enforcement operation highlights the role of cold-chain handling, sealed packaging and inspection capacity in protecting consumers in a large and fast-moving urban food market.
Digambar Bhogawade, joint commissioner of the FDA in Pune, advised consumers to check product quality, packaging, manufacturing details, expiry dates and storage conditions before buying dairy products. He said complaints about food quality or hygiene could be registered through the toll-free number 1800 222 365, and warned that unauthorised mixing of vegetable fat or other ingredients in dairy products would attract strict action.
The FDA said proceedings under the food safety law are continuing. The department’s advisory remains in force for consumers purchasing dairy products and festive sweets during the ongoing season.
