“Six quintals of fake cheese recovered, food department took major action in time”

Dehradun: Keeping in mind the Chardham Yatra, a major action was taken in Dehradun today under the instructions given by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to stop adulterated food items. The team of Food Safety and Drug Administration Department and the police took this action together. At 9 am, the District Officer’s office received information that the police had caught suspicious cheese in Raipur police station area. As soon as this news was received, Additional Commissioner Food Safety Tajwar Singh Jaggi immediately sent the mobile food testing lab to the spot.

Poisonous chemical formalin found in the investigation As soon as the investigation started, dangerous chemicals like SMP (skimmed milk powder) and formalin were found in the cheese in the testing. These chemicals are very harmful for health. Senior Food Safety Officer Ramesh Singh seized cheese from ‘Quality Dairy’ located at Tapovan Chowk. On the information of the police, a raid was conducted in the warehouse of the dairy, where about 7 quintals of cheese was recovered. This cheese was kept in very dirty conditions. After confirmation of formalin and the smell from the cheese, it was destroyed there itself.

Fake cheese found from other places too On a tip-off, the Food Safety Department and Raipur Police raided a shop in Ishwar Vihar. About 120 kg of cheese was being unloaded from a pick-up van there and 6 quintals of cheese were recovered from the warehouse. Investigation revealed that this cheese was fake and not fit for consumption. After this, Dehradun Police and Food Department contacted the Saharanpur administration. A joint action was taken in a factory in Saharanpur. 16 quintals of fake cheese, chemicals and machines used for adulteration were recovered from the factory. The factory was sealed and the cheese was destroyed.

Strict warning from the Food Department Dr. R. Rajesh Kumar, Commissioner Food Safety Department, Uttarakhand said that this action is an important step towards clean and safe food in the state. He said that such poisonous fake products are being strictly monitored and adulterators will be given strict punishment. He has also appealed to the people that if they have any doubt about any food item, then immediately inform the administration. There will be no compromise with public health Additional Commissioner Tajwar Singh Jaggi said that the health of the general public is most important for us and no compromise will be made with it. This action taken against adulterated items is an example. During the Chardham Yatra, full attention will be paid to the quality of food. This campaign against adulterators will continue continuously.