Mathura: UP authorities destroy 500 kg of adulterated paneer in major crackdown, seize 2,000 litres of 'milk'
The raid in Mathura was carried out by the Food Safety and Drug Administration at a paneer production facility as part of a district-level food safety drive.
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Officials in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, have destroyed 500 kg of contaminated paneer worth Rs 15,000 and confiscated chemicals and raw materials used in its production, as part of a broader statewide push against adulterated dairy products.
This coincides with a similar incident reported from Surat, Gujarat, where a 5-year-old girl died after having Kaju Paneer Curry from a local restaurant. The Surat Food authorities raided the premises and sealed the hotel. However, 4 family members of the deceased girl, who also consumed the same dish, have been hospitalized and are recovering.
This enforcement action comes as scrutiny of dairy substitutes and fake paneer intensifies nationwide, with Madhya Pradesh now joining Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Chhattisgarh in banning analogue paneer. The raid in Mathura was carried out by the Food Safety and Drug Administration at a paneer production facility as part of a district-level food safety drive.
During the operation, officials confiscated substantial amounts of refined soybean oil, Tinopol chemical, Ira Sodium Hydrogen, and other substances allegedly used in paneer manufacturing. Authorities collected nine samples from the site for laboratory testing and also seized 2,000 litres of milk worth approximately Rs 1.25 lakh. The Mathura operation unfolds amid heightened attention on analogue paneer across the country.
🚨5 quintals of fake paneer and 2,000 litres of milk has been destroyed in a raid by food safety officials in Mathura pic.twitter.com/XRaSNQL6QS
— The Tatva (@thetatvaindia) August 18, 2026
Analogue dairy products are formulated to mimic conventional dairy items but rely on non-dairy ingredients instead of some or all milk-based components. For analogue paneer specifically, manufacturers may use vegetable fats, proteins, or other non-dairy substances to imitate the look and texture of genuine paneer.
While FSSAI regulations acknowledge dairy analogues as a distinct product category, authentic paneer is officially defined as a product derived from milk, with or without added milk solids, produced through precipitation using approved acidulants and heat. This raid also comes in the context of a larger illegal dairy trade network operating across northern India.
This coincides with a similar incident reported from Surat, Gujarat, where a 5-year-old girl died after having Kaju Paneer Curry from a local restaurant. The Surat Food authorities raided the premises and sealed the hotel. However, 4 family members of the deceased girl, who also consumed the same dish, have been hospitalized and are recovering.