J&K bans loose Paneer from neighbouring states
Srinagar, Oct 28: In a major step to curb adulteration and food safety violations, the Jammu and Kashmir Commissioner of Food Safety on Tuesday ordered an immediate ban on the manufacture, sale, distribution, import, and transportation of loose paneer found to contain foreign fat.
The order, issued by Commissioner Smita Sethi, cites growing concerns over adulterated and untraceable consignments entering J&K from neighbouring states. It follows multiple seizures of unsafe paneer transported and stored under unhygienic and non-refrigerated conditions, often without invoices or bills, making prosecution difficult.
According to the order, laboratory analysis at the National Food Laboratory in Ghaziabad confirmed the presence of Beta-Sitosterol in seized samples, establishing the use of vegetable or foreign fat in paneer production. The adulterated paneer has been declared “unsafe” for consumption.
“Such practices not only violate the definition of genuine paneer but also expose consumers to serious health hazards,” the order said. Enforcement officers across the Union Territory have been directed to intensify surveillance and continue the seizure of unsafe dairy products.
The directive references Section 26 of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, which holds Food Business Operators (FBOs) responsible for maintaining safety at every stage of production, processing, import, distribution, and sale. It also invokes Part-III of Schedule-IV, mandating that high-risk foods like paneer be stored at or below 5°C — a norm frequently flouted.
The ban aligns with Sections 18(1)(a) and (f) of the Act, which prioritise the protection of human health and public awareness about food risks, as well as Regulation 2.1.1(10), which prohibits the inclusion of unnatural substances in milk products.
The restrictions will remain in force across J&K until revoked or modified, pending assurance that food business operators fully comply with safety provisions. Consumers have been urged to verify sources of paneer and report suspicious or unlabelled products to authorities.
Officials said the move underscores the government’s growing crackdown on adulterated dairy imports and its commitment to protecting public health and ensuring safe food supply chains in Jammu and Kashmir.
