Hyderabad Dairy Units Raided: 21 Samples Collected, Food Products Worth ₹7.19 Lakh Seized
Telangana food safety authorities, along with Hyderabad police, conducted a special inspection drive at 14 dairy product manufacturing and trading units in Hyderabad and adjoining areas amid concerns over adulteration and unhygienic practices.
Hyderabad: Telangana food safety authorities, along with Hyderabad police, conducted a special inspection drive at 14 dairy product manufacturing and trading units in Hyderabad and adjoining areas amid concerns over adulteration and unhygienic practices.
The enforcement operation was carried out by 12 teams of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG-SAFE), comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel, along with officers from H-FAST (Hyderabad City Police).
During the inspections, officials reportedly detected several food safety violations, particularly at units involved in the manufacture and sale of paneer and other dairy products.
Authorities found loose palm oil and Glycerol Monostearate at some units allegedly being used in the preparation of paneer analogues. Officials also reported the presence of cockroaches and house flies, poor hygiene and sanitation, and a lack of proper milk procurement records to establish the source of the milk.
As part of the drive, 21 food samples were collected on suspicion of adulteration and quality violations.
Food articles valued at approximately ₹7,19,340 were seized, including:
- 1 tonne of palm oil
- 476 kg of Glycerol Monostearate
- 1,760 packs of Mavee’s Classic Premium Cooking Cream
- 150 kg of skimmed milk powder
Officials said the Glycerol Monostearate was allegedly being used without authorisation in the manufacture of paneer, while the cooking cream was seized over alleged misleading claims or advertisements. The skimmed milk powder was seized on suspicion of quality concerns.
The authorities also identified different levels of violations at several establishments and initiated further action.
Improvement notices will reportedly be issued to Sri Mahalaxmi Kendra at Khanapur, Ibrahimpatnam, and Anitha Dairy at Hayathnagar, directing them to rectify the identified deficiencies.
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Show-cause notices are set to be issued to Geetha Dairy at Nadergul and NARMUL (Mother Dairy) over reported violations, with further action proposed, including penalties.
Meanwhile, the FSSAI licences of three establishments were suspended, with instructions to immediately stop business operations in the interest of public health.
The affected units include Laxmi Foods at Gaganpahad, where officials reportedly found cockroach infestation, untidy milk containers, improper storage, 600 litres of loose palm oil and unauthorised use of Glycerol Monostearate in paneer production.
The licence of Dhana Lakshmi Dairy Products at Mailardevpally, Rajendranagar, was also suspended after officials reported highly unhygienic conditions, including blocked drains, foul smell, house flies and poor personal hygiene among food handlers. The unit was also found with 195 litres of loose palm oil and allegedly unauthorised Glycerol Monostearate.
Similarly, Natraj Milk & Milk Food Products was suspended over reported unhygienic conditions, including rusty asbestos sheets, dampness, moss and mould growth, along with the alleged unauthorised use of Glycerol Monostearate in paneer manufacturing.
The food safety department said further action would be taken based on the laboratory results of the samples collected and the findings of the inspections.
