Paneer, milk cream worth Rs 11.67 lakh seized

PUNE: Officials of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Sunday seized a stock of paneer (cottage cheese) and cream worth Rs 11.67 lakh brought to Pune from Karnataka in an unhygienic condition. The stock was destroyed.
"We received a tip-off that a truck carrying a sizeable quantity of paneer and cream would reach Shreenath cinema hall in Budhwar Peth on early Sunday.We intercepted the truck when it reached the spot for inspection. We found that paneer and milk cream were stored in rusted tin containers, consumption of which would be harmful," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), FDA, Pune.
The officials seized the total stock that included 478kg of paneer and 664 kg of milk cream.
"We have drawn samples of paneer and cream and sent them for tests to the state-run Public Health Laboratory. We will initiate action against the transporters based on the laboratory reports," Kekare said.
Dilip Sangat, assistant commissioner (food), FDA said, "The milk products were transported in a truck from Hudchi, a village in Karnataka. The carriers did not have any bills or the licence to sell them."
Sanjay Naragude, assistant commissioner (food) carried out the raid along with food safety officials Yogesh Dhone, Rajendra Kakade and Balasaheb Kotkar.