Gujarat food drive destroys 1,018 kg suspect paneer, 4,193 units inspected
Synopsis
Gujarat's Food Purity Campaign just got real — 1,018 kg of suspect paneer destroyed, 18 outlets sealed, and ₹2.84 lakh in fines collected across 4,193 inspected units in a single month. With lab results on 118 samples still pending, the crackdown is far from over.
Key Takeaways
1,018 kg of suspected adulterated paneer worth ₹1.83 lakh destroyed during April 2025.
4,193 units inspected across Gujarat under the Food Purity Campaign .
118 food samples sent for laboratory testing; 270 establishments issued notices.
18 establishments sealed for serious hygiene and food safety breaches.
Municipal corporations recovered fines exceeding ₹2.84 lakh from violators.
Authorities in Gujarat have destroyed approximately 1,018 kilograms of suspected adulterated paneer, valued at around ₹1.83 lakh, as part of a sweeping state-wide food safety inspection drive targeting dairy adulteration and unsafe summer consumables. The crackdown, conducted across 4,193 units during April 2025, marks one of the most extensive food enforcement exercises the state has undertaken ahead of peak summer.
Key Developments in the Drive
Inspection teams fanned out across manufacturing units, restaurants, dhabas, and street food stalls, identifying suspected analogue dairy products being passed off as genuine paneer. Stocks found unfit or suspicious under food safety norms were seized and destroyed on the spot. In addition, enforcement teams sealed 18 establishments for serious breaches of hygiene and food safety rules, while municipal corporations across Gujarat recovered fines totalling more than ₹2.84 lakh from violators.
What the Government Said
Health Minister Praful Pansheriya confirmed the enforcement exercise formed part of the state's
Point of View
But the real test will come when the 118 lab samples return results. Past food safety drives in Indian states have often stalled at the inspection stage, with prosecutions rarely following through. The extension of checks to seasonal items like sugarcane juice and ice gola is a pragmatic move given summer adulteration patterns — but 284 training programmes mean little without consistent follow-up enforcement. The sealing of only 18 establishments out of 4,193 inspected also raises questions about the threshold being applied.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Gujarat's Food Purity Campaign?
Gujarat's Food Purity Campaign is a state-wide enforcement drive targeting food adulteration, particularly in dairy products and seasonal consumables. In April 2025, it covered 4,193 units and led to the destruction of 1,018 kg of suspected adulterated paneer.
Why was the paneer destroyed?
The paneer stocks were destroyed after being identified as suspected analogue dairy products — items made from non-dairy fats but misrepresented as genuine paneer. They were found unfit or suspicious under food safety norms and were seized and destroyed on the spot.
What happens next after the inspections?
Authorities collected 118 food samples for laboratory testing, and further legal action will depend on those results. Around 270 establishments have already received notices for violations, and officials say the drive will continue with sustained monitoring.
Which seasonal items were also covered in the drive?
Given the rise in summer consumption, inspections were extended to sugarcane juice, mango juice, ice gola, and watermelon. Under the 'Food Safety on Wheels' initiative, checks were conducted at 1,576 locations and 1,705 samples were tested.
How much was collected in fines during the drive?
Municipal corporations across Gujarat recovered fines totalling more than ₹2.84 lakh from violators during the April 2025 inspection drive.
