Gandhinagar, April 5 (NationPress) In a recent initiative aimed at enhancing food safety, authorities in Gujarat have levied fines totaling Rs 1,40,900 against 17 food establishments and disposed of around 615 kilograms of substandard food. This crackdown was conducted statewide, according to official reports released on Sunday.

This enforcement action is part of a broader strategy to ensure the integrity and transparency regarding the use of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) and its substitutes in hotels, restaurants, dhabas, and street food vendors.

On April 4, the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) issued an order mandating all food business operators to explicitly state whether they are using either milk-based paneer or paneer analogues made from vegetable fat, starch, or other alternatives.

According to the FDCA order, “Products made using substitutes should not be marketed as ‘paneer’ but labeled as ‘paneer analogue’ or simply ‘analogue’.”

The authority underscored that any misleading information provided to consumers would be treated as a serious infringement, leading to stringent legal consequences.

During the enforcement drive on Saturday, 347 establishments across Gujarat, including restaurants, dhabas, and food stalls, were thoroughly inspected.

Among the establishments penalized for not adhering to the labeling requirements were hotels and eateries located in Ahmedabad, with the Surat Municipal Corporation and the Rajkot Municipal Corporation imposing fines of Rs 52,300 and Rs 3,600, respectively.

This operation follows previous enforcement actions under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, where between January 1 and March 31, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) collected 2,049 food samples, revealing that 74 were substandard.

AMC officials stated, “Of the samples collected, 74 food items were found to be substandard, and appropriate actions have been taken against the relevant Food Business Operators in accordance with legal provisions.”

The samples tested included 85 of paneer, 59 of milk, 89 of milk products, 20 of mango milkshake and sugarcane juice, 56 of bakery items, 68 of sweets, 99 of namkeen, 61 of sugar-boiled confectionery, 178 of flours and grains, 85 of edible oil, 26 of beverages, 35 of sugar and related items, 3 of tea, 248 of spices and iodised salt, and 937 categorized as others.

During this same timeframe, 4,294 food business units were inspected, leading to the issuance of 1,411 notices, conducting 1,033 tests, recovering Rs 22,42,300 in administrative fees, and destroying 3,081 kilograms of unsafe food.

AMC officials also highlighted the focus on the quality of paneer, revealing that of the 85 samples collected in the first three months of 2026, 25 were deemed substandard, primarily due to inadequate fat content or the use of analogue paneer instead of milk paneer.

Penalties exceeding Rs 3 lakh were enforced, and action was taken against 12 establishments.

Over 15,000 food business operators have been notified via email to clearly specify whether they are using milk paneer or analogue paneer, with non-compliance resulting in legal repercussions.

Officials have expressed that these measures underscore the ongoing commitment to safeguarding consumer interests and maintaining food safety standards across Gujarat.