Bhubaneswar, Aug 25: The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Tuesday intensified inspections at sweet shops in Pahala, deploying a mobile testing van to examine the quality of chhena and paneer amid growing concerns over food adulteration ahead of the festive season.

The BMC Health Department inspected several prominent sweet shops in the area to verify compliance with food safety regulations and check whether any prohibited substances were being used in the preparation of chhena and paneer. Suspected samples were collected and sent for laboratory testing, officials said.

The civic body warned that strict legal action would be taken against establishments found violating food safety norms.

The inspection followed similar enforcement drives conducted across Bhubaneswar at sweet shops, hotels and paneer outlets. During Monday’s drive, around 100 kg of old paneer was seized and destroyed, while two suspected samples were sent for laboratory examination.

Twelve traders were reportedly fined a total of Rs 12,000 for violating food safety regulations. BMC officials said nearly 200 kg of paneer seized from different locations over the past two days was found unfit for consumption and subsequently destroyed.

Cases have also been registered against some establishments, while improvement notices were issued to others.

The enforcement campaign has affected the supply of chhena to sweet shops in Pahala. Nearly 100 shops in the area had earlier been receiving around 4,000 kg of chhena daily, but supplies have declined considerably following the anti-adulteration drive.

The BMC has advised consumers to remain cautious while purchasing sweets and paneer and report suspected cases of unsafe food through its complaint mechanism.

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