Alarm in India: 83% of Paneer Fails Safety; 550kg Seized

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has raised alarms over paneer, with 83% of samples failing safety tests, marking it as the most adulterated food item in the nation. The Noida Food Safety Department recently seized and destroyed 550 kg of adulterated paneer in a major crackdown, highlighting the serious public health risk posed by food adulteration. Shockingly, 40% of the failed paneer samples were found to be hazardous due to illegal and toxic adulterants such as palm oil, detergents, urea, and synthetic chemicals.

These additives pose severe health threats, including potential kidney damage and cancer. The situation has prompted increased consumer interest in non-dairy alternatives like tofu, almond paneer, and tempeh. As consumer trust in traditional paneer wanes, the market for verified and safe dairy alternatives is poised to grow. The FSSAI's heightened regulatory actions will necessitate greater transparency and safety compliance from dairy manufacturers moving forward.