news details |
|
|
| Who was behind the 1.28-tonne synthetic Paneer consignment headed for Jammu? | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, June 16: The seizure of 1.28 tonnes of suspected synthetic and adulterated paneer from a Delhi-bound double-decker bus has exposed a major attempt to push unsafe food products into markets across Jammu, raising serious concerns over the activities of unscrupulous elements willing to jeopardize public health for financial gain.
Authorities believe the consignment, had it reached the market, could have posed significant health risks to consumers. Preliminary assessments indicate that the paneer was in a highly deteriorated condition and may have been manufactured using substandard or synthetic ingredients, making it potentially hazardous for human consumption.
In one of the largest crackdowns on food adulteration at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir in recent years, a joint team of the Food Safety Department and police seized 1,286 kilograms (12.86 quintals) of the suspected adulterated paneer during a special enforcement drive conducted at Satwari in Jammu and Vijaypur in Samba district.
Officials said the operation was part of an intensified campaign to prevent the entry of unsafe and adulterated food products into the Union Territory. During the drive, a double-decker sleeper bus arriving from Delhi was intercepted and subjected to a detailed inspection.
The search led to the recovery of a huge quantity of paneer concealed inside a specially designed compartment and the luggage storage area of the vehicle. Investigators suspect that the consignment was intended for distribution in markets across Jammu, Samba, and Kathua districts.
Officials involved in the operation said the recovered paneer emitted a strong foul smell and appeared completely unfit for human consumption. The quantity and condition of the consignment reportedly left officials shocked, prompting immediate action to prevent it from entering the supply chain.
Given the potential threat to public health, authorities destroyed the entire consignment after collecting samples for laboratory examination. The samples have been sent to the Public Health Laboratory in Jammu to determine whether the product was synthetic, adulterated, or otherwise unsafe for consumption.
Preliminary observations by officials suggest that the texture, appearance, and overall condition of the paneer were inconsistent with dairy products prepared from natural milk. Investigators suspect it may have been manufactured using low-grade ingredients and harmful synthetic substances, although the final determination will depend on laboratory findings.
The operation also led to the arrest of two drivers and a conductor of the bus. Vijaypur Police have registered a case and launched a comprehensive investigation to trace the origin of the consignment, identify its intended recipients, and uncover any larger network involved in the manufacture and distribution of adulterated food products.
Officials described the seizure as a major success in the fight against food adulteration and an important step towards protecting consumers from potentially dangerous products. They warned that stringent action would be taken against traders, transporters, and suppliers found involved in such illegal activities.
The Food Safety Department has also announced that inspection drives across Jammu and Kashmir will be intensified in the coming weeks to curb the menace of food adulteration. Authorities have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of adulteration, assuring that all complaints will be thoroughly investigated in the interest of public health and consumer safety.
The incident has once again highlighted the need for strict monitoring of food products entering Jammu and Kashmir, particularly during the summer months when the demand for dairy products remains high and the risk of adulteration increases. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
