Holi Special: How to Spot Fake Paneer, Mawa, and Adulterated Mustard Oil

Patna: With the arrival of Holi, the demand for sweets and paneer has skyrocketed across Patna, but so has the sale of adulterated food products, posing serious health risks. Authorities have uncovered large-scale food adulteration, with paneer made from milk powder and mustard oil mixed with harmful chemicals being sold at significantly lower prices.

Alarming Price Gap Raises Red Flags

The price of pure paneer made from milk ranges between ₹360 to ₹400 per kg in the market, while adulterated paneer made from milk powder is being sold for just ₹160 per kg. Similarly, pure mustard oil costs ₹200 per liter, but mustard oil mixed with palm oil is available at just ₹140 per liter.

Experts warn that ammonium nitrate, a hazardous chemical, is being added to mustard oil to create foam, making it unsafe for consumption.

FSSAI Guidelines on Food Purity

According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI):

• Paneer must contain at least 50% fat. If lower-fat paneer is sold, it must be properly labeled as “low-fat paneer”.
• Milk powder cannot be used to prepare paneer, as it lacks natural fats.
• Mawa (khoya) must be made entirely from milk, and adding potatoes, sweet potatoes, or milk powder to increase starch content is prohibited.
• Mustard oil must not contain more than 7.0% moisture by weight and should be free of any chemicals, including ammonium nitrate.

Food Safety Officer Warns Against Illegal Practices

Patna’s Food Safety Officer (FSO) Ajay Kumar confirmed that the use of milk powder in paneer preparation is illegal. Since milk powder lacks fat, sellers often mix ghee or palm oil, which can be harmful to health. He further added that:

• Selling paneer openly without proper labeling is a legal offense.
• Mawa adulterated with starch or milk powder is completely illegal.
• Chemical adulteration in mustard oil is strictly prohibited, and mixing palm oil degrades its quality, leading to severe health risks.

Authorities use Total Polar Compound (TPC) Measuring Equipment to check oil quality. If TPC levels exceed 25, the oil is deemed unfit for consumption.

500 Kg of Adulterated Paneer Seized in Patna Raids

To combat food adulteration, the Food Safety Department has conducted raids in areas like Maner, Sabalpur, Danapur, Bihta, Fatuha, and Khusrupur. So far, officials have seized 500 kg of adulterated paneer.

Legal Consequences for Food Adulteration

There are two categories of cases for food adulteration:

1. Civil Cases – Penalties include:
   • ₹3 lakh fine for misbranding.
   • ₹5 lakh fine for substandard food.
   • ₹10 lakh fine for misleading claims.
2. Criminal Cases – For unsafe food, punishments range from:
   • ₹10 lakh fine.
   • Six years to life imprisonment, depending on the severity.

Consumer Awareness: How to Identify Adulterated Foods

Experts advise buyers to be cautious while purchasing paneer, mawa, and mustard oil. Consumers should:

• Check paneer for texture and elasticity—adulterated paneer is often too soft or rubbery.
• Test mawa by rubbing a small piece between fingers—pure mawa feels smooth, while adulterated mawa feels sticky.
• Check mustard oil for foam formation when shaken—excessive foaming indicates chemical additives.

With Holi celebrations in full swing, food safety officials urge the public to buy from trusted sources and report any suspicious food adulteration to authorities.