SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, July 22: In a significant crackdown on food adulteration, the Food Safety Department (FSD) on Tuesday seized 780 kg of adulterated paneer along with khowa and sweets from a Patna-Dhanbad bus during the early hours.
The seizure was made at Puja Talkies under the jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station, based on a tip-off received by authorities.
According to Dhanbad Food Safety Officer (FSO) Raja Kumar, the adulterated items were loaded at Bakhtiyarpur in Patna district. The seized consignment included 780 kg of paneer, 80 kg of khowa, and 25 kg each of peda and ladoo.
This is the first time that adulterated paneer and khowa in such large quantities have been intercepted from a Dhanbad-bound Patna bus.
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Operation Details and Preliminary Findings
The checking began around 3 am, and by 4 am, officers had intercepted a Bundela bus from which the adulterated items were being unloaded. An on-the-spot test was conducted, confirming that the products were approximately 60% adulterated. The samples have now been sent to the State Laboratory in Namkum, Ranchi, for further testing.
The FSO also confirmed that the bus owner has been issued a notice for transporting food items without a valid food supply license. “Action will be taken under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA) 2006,” Kumar stated.
Distribution Network and Ongoing Crackdown
Investigations revealed that such adulterated products are typically brought into Dhanbad during the early morning hours and distributed to various locations around 6 am.
Kumar noted that the department is currently focusing on identifying and targeting the main supply sources of these adulterated food items before moving on to inspect hotels and restaurants.
This campaign, he said, is being conducted under the directive of the Deputy Commissioner and Civil Surgeon. The Food Safety Department plans to intensify inspections in the coming weeks.
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Raja Kumar, who was transferred to Dhanbad last year, has previously led extensive anti-adulteration drives in Garhwa and Lohardagga districts. Under his leadership, similar campaigns had resulted in major seizures and legal action against violators.
The department now aims to sustain its crackdown in Dhanbad by systematically dismantling the network of adulterated food supply in the district.
