Regulator Finally Wakes Up: FSSAI Cracks Down on Fake Dairy

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has launched a major nationwide crackdown on adulterated dairy products including fake milk, paneer and khoya, issuing fresh directives to all States and Union Territories to conduct intensive inspections and take strict action against offenders. The move comes amid growing reports of unsafe, illegally manufactured dairy goods posing serious public health risks, especially to vulnerable groups like children and the elderly.

Under the special enforcement drive — empowered by Section 16(5) of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 — State Food Safety Departments and FSSAI Regional Offices are ordered to scrutinise production units, storage facilities, transporters, wholesalers, retailers and food service outlets for adulteration and misbranding. Food Safety Officers will collect enforcement samples of milk, paneer and khoya as per mandated procedures, check licencing and registration status of businesses, and undertake traceability exercises where suspicious patterns are detected to identify and dismantle illegal supply chains.

Recent data shared in Parliament highlights the scale of the problem: in Punjab alone, nearly 47% of paneer and other milk product samples tested during 2024–25 failed to meet food safety standards, with common adulterants such as starch and added sugar detected in several samples — an illustration of how widespread food fraud has become in everyday dairy products.

FSSAI has directed authorities to initiate strict enforcement actions wherever violations are found, including seizure of unsafe products, suspension or cancellation of licences, closure of illegal units, and recall or destruction of adulterated goods. To boost accountability and real-time monitoring, all inspection data is to be uploaded promptly to the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS), enabling effective consolidation, analysis and follow-up at the national level.

The regulator has also called for strengthening inter-State coordination and local intelligence networks to curb the movement of adulterated dairy products across borders. State authorities have been urged to sensitise hotels, restaurants, caterers, pubs and food service associations so that only genuine and safe dairy ingredients are procured, stored and served in their premises.  

FSSAI officials say the drive is aimed at protecting consumer health, reinforcing food safety standards, and rebuilding trust in India’s dairy supply chains. With milk and milk products forming an integral part of the Indian diet — from everyday meals to festival sweets — the regulator’s message is clear: unchecked food fraud not only harms consumers but also damages the credibility of genuine dairy producers.

Consumer Advisory

Consumers must recognise that fake milk, paneer and khoya are not just quality issues but serious public-health risks. Always buy dairy products from licensed, reputed brands or trusted local dairies, check FSSAI licence numbers, avoid unusually low-priced paneer and khoya, and be alert to abnormal texture, excessive whiteness or rubbery consistency. In case of doubt, consumers should report suspected adulteration through FoSCoS or State Food Safety helplines. Food safety is a shared responsibility, but enforcement begins with vigilance — both from regulators and from informed consumers.

Source : Dairynews7x7 Dec 17th 2025