In a strong move to safeguard public health, the Centre has intensified its fight against milk adulteration, announcing a nationwide special enforcement drive against fake paneer, khoya and other adulterated dairy products. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has directed all states and Union Territories to adopt a zero-tolerance policy against adulteration and misleading food practices.
The decision follows alarming reports from multiple regions highlighting the growing circulation of counterfeit dairy products made using synthetic milk, harmful chemicals and substandard ingredients. Officials said adulteration in daily-consumption items like milk poses serious health risks and will be dealt with strictly.
Illegal Units Under Scanner, Supply Chain to Be Monitored
According to FSSAI sources, investigations have revealed that fake paneer and khoya are often produced in unlicensed and illegal factories operating on the outskirts of cities and rural pockets. These units allegedly use unsafe substances to cut costs, flooding markets with counterfeit products sold as genuine dairy items.
Under the upcoming drive, state food safety departments and FSSAI regional teams will conduct end-to-end inspections—from milk procurement and processing units to wholesalers, retailers and local markets. Authorities will closely examine storage conditions, sourcing practices and distribution networks to identify violations.
Large-Scale Sampling and Licensing Verification
The enforcement campaign will involve large-scale sample collection of milk, paneer and khoya from licensed and unlicensed establishments. These samples will undergo laboratory testing to check quality and compliance with food safety standards.
Inspectors will also verify licences and registrations. In cases where adulteration is detected, officials will trace the product’s origin to dismantle illegal manufacturing units and associated supply chains. Such units may face immediate closure to prevent further circulation of unsafe products.
Hotels, Restaurants and Caterers on Notice
FSSAI has made it clear that action will extend beyond manufacturers. Hotels, restaurants, caterers, food chains and pubs have been warned against procuring or serving adulterated dairy products.
Any food business operator found using fake or substandard paneer or khoya—knowingly or otherwise—will face strict legal action, including fines, licence suspension or cancellation. Accountability will be fixed at every level of the food business ecosystem.
Strict Penalties and Central Monitoring
Violators will face stringent penalties such as seizure of adulterated products, sealing of premises, destruction of unsafe food and prosecution under food safety laws. All enforcement actions will be uploaded on FoSCoS, FSSAI’s digital platform, allowing real-time monitoring at the central level.
States have also been instructed to enhance inter-state coordination to curb the movement of adulterated milk products across borders—an emerging challenge for enforcement agencies.
Consumer Health and Trust in Focus
Officials said the primary objective of the drive is to protect consumer health, curb food fraud and restore public confidence in milk and milk-based products. Experts believe the move will act as a strong deterrent against adulterators and bring greater discipline and transparency to India’s dairy sector.
