Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: Assam has slapped a statewide ban on the storage, transport, and sale of tainted paneer and dairy products. The Commissioner of Food Safety issued the order on October 31. This follows a rigorous testing period spanning from January 1 to October 31, 2026. Labs checked 60 samples pulled from markets statewide. The results are bad.
Out of those 60 samples, 41 failed to meet basic food standards. Officials flagged 36 as substandard and five as unsafe for human consumption. Health and Family Welfare Minister Ashok Singhal confirmed the data on Tuesday. He issued a stern warning to traders. "Those found violating food safety regulations would face stringent action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006," Singhal stated.
Analysis uncovered a list of dangerous shortcuts. Samples contained excessive moisture, insufficient milk fat, and hidden starch. Labs also identified vegetable fats and other banned, undeclared ingredients. The directive kills the market for fake dairy analogues masquerading as genuine goods. It also targets misbranded items meant to trick consumers.
The government shift demands accountability across the food supply chain. Hotels, restaurants, cloud kitchens, and caterers must now vet their suppliers. They must confirm the origin and regulatory status of all dairy stock. Operators must pull suspect items from shelves immediately and alert safety authorities. While the crackdown is aggressive, legally labeled and compliant dairy analogues remain on the market.
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