Malkajgiri Police Seize 730 kg Adulterated Ginger-Garlic Paste, 500 kg Paneer in Food Safety Raids
Malkajgiri police seized 730 kg of suspected adulterated ginger-garlic paste, 500 kg of loose paneer and large quantities of skimmed milk powder in raids on three food units.
The Malkajgiri police on Tuesday conducted separate raids on food manufacturing units across Hayathnagar, Alwal and Dundigal, seizing 730 kg of suspected adulterated ginger-garlic paste, 500 kg of loose paneer and substantial quantities of skimmed milk powder and other ingredients.
In the first operation, the M-FAST (Malkajgiri Food Adulteration Surveillance Team), along with the SOT LB Nagar Team and Hayathnagar police, raided Sri Manikanta (SMK) Golden Food Products and Ginger-Garlic Paste Manufacturing Unit at Shiva Shakti Nagar in Hayathnagar. Police apprehended Akula Shivaiah, 38, who was allegedly manufacturing ginger-garlic paste using low-quality raw material, an unidentified solution and food colour.
The teams seized 13 drums containing 650 kg of ginger-garlic paste, 10 boxes containing 50 kg and 150 boxes containing another 30 kg, taking the total quantity of paste seized to approximately 730 kg. A 3.5-litre bottle containing an unidentified solution and a box of food colour were also seized.
According to M-FAST, the paste was being prepared in unhygienic conditions without following the required food safety and quality standards. The suspected adulterated raw materials and finished products were seized, and a case was registered at Hayathnagar Police Station under Sections 223, 274 and 275 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In another operation the same day, the SOT Malkajgiri Team-II of the Cantonment Zone, in coordination with MFAST, raided Natraj Milk and Milk Food Products at Turkapally, Alwal, under Alwal Police Station limits. Police said the unit was preparing paneer by mixing skimmed milk powder. Around 500 kg of loose paneer and two bags containing approximately 50 kg of skimmed milk powder were seized.
The respondent, Japala Natraj, 56, was handed over to Alwal Police Station personnel along with the seized material for further legal action. The preparation method and materials found at the premises raised prima facie concerns over compliance with prescribed food safety, quality, composition and manufacturing standards.
The teams also raided M/s Yashoda Sweet and Namkeen at Bowrampet village in Dundigal, where police said the unit was using substantial quantities of skimmed milk powder, oil and dalda or vegetable fat in the preparation of halwa and other sweets.
Several brands of skimmed milk powder were seized, including approximately 35 bags each of Shreedhi Premium Gold and Ramsons Spray Dried skimmed milk powder, with each bag containing 25 packets of 1 kg. Six 25-kg bags of Dholpur Fresh, four 25-kg bags of Gyan, one 25-kg bag of Lacto Win and one 25-kg bag of Savariya skimmed milk powder were also seized.
The operation resulted in the seizure of 21 kg of prepared and packed Yashoda Sweet Halwa, approximately 100 tins of Freedom Oil and 50 tins of Dalda. The respondent, Pushpendra Baghel, 32, was handed over to Dundigal Police Station along with the seized material for further legal action.