Jhalawar Raid: 3,000kg Mawa Seized, Substandard Dairy Products Destroyed
Food safety officials in Jhalawar seize 3,000kg of mawa and destroy substandard dairy products during a raid at Pooja Dairy.
In a massive crackdown on food adulteration, the food safety department in Jhalawar has seized approximately 3,000 kilograms of mawa during a targeted operation at Pooja Dairy. This action was part of the 'Shuddh Aahar Milawat Par Vaar' campaign, an initiative aimed at eliminating contaminated food from the market under the guidance of Rajasthan's Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Control, Avichal Chaturvedi, and District Collector Ajay Singh Rathore.
How the Operation Unfolded
The raid was the result of a coordinated intelligence effort between multiple police stations and health officials. The chain of events began when the Garoth police station alerted the Mishroli police regarding the distribution of low-quality paneer by Pooja Dairy. This information was promptly escalated to the Superintendent of Police in Jhalawar, Amit Kumar, who then notified the Designated Food Safety Officer.
Acting on this lead, Dr. Mohammad Sajid, the Chief Medical and Health Officer and Designated Food Safety Officer, dispatched a specialized food safety team to the site. The joint operation, supported by the Mishroli police, led to a thorough inspection of the dairy premises.
Massive Seizure and Immediate Destruction
During the search of the facility, officials discovered a staggering 3,000 kilograms of mawa stored in cold storage. Suspecting that the product was adulterated, the team took the following steps:
- Sample Collection: Samples were collected in accordance with the Food Safety and Standards Act.
- Stock Seizure: The entire 3,000kg stock was seized and placed under the safe custody of the food business operator pending further investigation.
- On-the-Spot Destruction: In addition to the mawa, officials found 50 kilograms of sweets and 25 kilograms of paneer that were visibly spoiled. To prevent these substandard products from reaching consumers and risking public health, they were destroyed immediately after samples were taken.
Laboratory Testing and Next Steps
The seized samples have been transported to the Food Safety Standard Laboratory in Kota. Authorities have stated that the final course of legal action against the dairy will be determined based on the official laboratory reports.
The operation was carried out by a dedicated team of Food Safety Officers, including G.S. Gurjar, Bhuraram Godara, Ashish Singh Kushwaha, Jagdish Chandra Nagar, and Amar Singh Bairwa.