Ludhiana: Food safety concerns have resurfaced in Punjab’s industrial hub as the district health department revealed that more than 20% of all food samples collected between January and June this year failed quality tests. Alarmingly, milk and dairy products accounted for the majority of failed samples, raising consumer health concerns ahead of the festival season.
Dairy Products Lead in Adulteration Cases
Data from the district health department shows that out of 324 total food samples, reports of 299 samples have been processed, with 62 found substandard or unsafe. Of these:
- 48 out of 158 dairy product samples failed quality tests
- Paneer (cottage cheese) topped the list with 28 failures out of 76 samples
- 7 out of 11 curd samples and 8 out of 34 milk samples failed safety checks
In contrast, only 14 of 166 non-dairy food items—including masalas, dals, sweets, dry fruits, and fast food—were found to be below standard.
“We have intensified sampling in view of the monsoon and the upcoming festival season,” said Dr. Amarjeet Kaur, District Health Officer (DHO), Ludhiana. “Our focus is to ensure the public consumes safe and hygienic food.”
Action Against Offenders
The department has stepped up enforcement, issuing on-the-spot challans for unhygienic conditions and filing cases in court for substandard or unsafe food products.
- 35 cases decided in ADC court since September have resulted in ₹10 lakh in fines for vendors
- Two cases have been filed in the Chief Judicial Magistrate’s (CJM) court for selling dangerous food items, with 10 more cases in process
Food safety teams have warned vendors of stringent action against adulteration, particularly in dairy products such as milk, paneer, khoa, and ghee.
Consumer Awareness and Testing Facilities
To empower consumers, food safety officer Yogesh Goyal shared a quick home test for detecting water adulteration in milk:
“Place a spoonful of milk on a plate and tilt it. If it leaves a visible trail, it is likely pure. If it doesn’t, water adulteration is possible.”
Additionally, Ludhiana’s mobile food testing van operates 25 days a month, offering doorstep milk testing for just ₹50. Agencies such as GADVASU, PAU, and the Dairy Development Board (DDB) have also developed affordable testing kits priced at ₹100, which can conduct up to 10 tests.
Staff and Infrastructure Challenges
Food safety officers admit to operational constraints:
- Only one vehicle is available for six zones, limiting the number of raids that can be conducted daily
- The district has just four food safety officers, with one on deputation, and officials say at least two more officers are urgently needed
Sample analysis is conducted at the Kharar food safety laboratory, with reports generally available within 14 days. In critical cases, reports are expedited and delivered within 24 hours.
Why This Matters for the Dairy Industry
The high rate of adulteration in paneer, milk, and curd has serious implications for consumer health, brand trust, and market credibility in Punjab’s dairy sector. Industry experts believe stricter enforcement and investment in local testing infrastructure are essential for safeguarding India’s growing dairy market, which is increasingly under consumer scrutiny.