A massive food adulteration racket was recently discovered in Gujarat when the authorities carried out a huge operation in Surat. The Special Operation Group (SOG) and the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) food safety department led the action, resulting in the confiscation of 1,401 kg of substandard “analogue” paneer.
The Raid: Location and Discovery
The raid was conducted on Thursday, March 5 2026 at a godown in the Pandesara industrial area. Officials acting on a detailed tip-off targeted a factory in Bhidbhanjan Society, where they uncovered a large-scale fake paneer manufacturing operation.
- Quantity seized: Total 1,401 kg of ready-to-eat and under-processed paneer.
- Estimated value: The total value of the seizure including machinery and ingredients was approximately ₹28.44 lakh.
- Illegal operation: The unit was found to be operating without a valid FSSAI license.
Dangerous Ingredients: How “Fake” Paneer is Made
The investigations brought out that the “analogue paneer” was prepared by mixing a variety of non-dairy and chemical components instead of using fresh milk. Although this method significantly lowers the production costs, it introduces potential health hazards to the consumers.
- Palm Oil: A massive quantity of palmolein oil (16 filled 15 kg tins along with 28 empty tins) was uncovered at the premises.
- Milk Powder & Acid: The product was fabricated by mixing palm oil with milk powder and acetic acid to imitate the texture of genuine paneer.
- Machinery: Along with the manufacturing process, the authorities confiscated a pasteurizing machine, a homogenizer and high-precision weighing scales.
The Mastermind and Distribution Network
The illegal factory is said to have been run by one Mahesh Kumar Sharma, a native of Rajasthan who was residing in the Althan area of Surat. According to Sharma, the illegal factory has been running for the last two years. Each day, the factory churned out approximately 400 kg of fake paneer. The adulterated product was sold at 220 per kg to several local establishments, including Dharmaraj Dairy, Radha Krishna Dairy, Om Sai Dairy, and Rajkamal Dairy. To bypass scrutiny, the accused used stickers labeled “NON BRAND LOOSE ANALOGUE PANEER”.
Health Risks and Next Steps
Eating adulterated paneer packed with synthetic chemicals and extra palm oil might cause serious digestive troubles and could also bring about health problems in the long run.
SOG and SMC collected the samples of the seized stock and had them analyzed at a government-approved forensic laboratory. DCP Rajdeep Singh Nakum said that a criminal case will be registered against the owner formally, depending on the lab reports that will substantiate the level of adulteration.
