Task Force Raids Kohinoor Dairy Unit, Uncovering Major Violations Near Hyderabad

The raid revealed unsanitary conditions, missing certifications, and harmful substances used in dairy products, posing severe health risks.

Food safety raids in Hyderabad
by Ruchira Talapatra - October 22, 2024, 7:07 pm

In a recent crackdown, Telangana‘s Food Safety Task Force raided the Kohinoor Dairy Products manufacturing unit located in Peerzadiguda, near Hyderabad. The raid, part of ongoing efforts to ensure food safety, revealed multiple violations related to hygiene, quality control, and documentation at the facility. The team found that the dairy unit was operating from a poorly maintained shed, lacking a proper layout plan and failing to meet the required food safety standards.

Key violations included the absence of records regarding milk procurement and sales, missing pest control and pollution certifications, and a lack of a quality control lab. Additionally, food handlers were found without the necessary FOSTAC (Food Safety Training and Certification) credentials, and no medical records were available for these workers. These lapses, combined with unsanitary conditions at the facility—such as wet walls and slippery floors—raised serious concerns about the safety of the products being manufactured.

This incident is not isolated. In October 2024, Kohinoor Dairy Products was previously implicated in producing counterfeit milk, paneer, and other dairy items using substandard materials. Authorities seized large quantities of fake products, including 300 kilograms of paneer and significant amounts of chemicals used in sweets like Kalakand. The dairy was using harmful substances like acetic acid, palm oil, and vanaspati in the production process, which posed severe health risks to consumers. These revelations highlight the pervasive issue of food adulteration in the region.

Similar raids in Hyderabad earlier this year revealed multiple violations at other dairy units and food establishments. In August, inspections in the city’s Koti area flagged major concerns at dairy stores, where unlabelled ghee packets were seized. In June, a raid at Creamline Dairy Products uncovered structural issues like loose plastering and broken tiles, further illustrating the widespread non-compliance with food safety regulations across the state.

The task force’s efforts come amid growing concerns over food safety in Telangana, where several cases of food adulteration and unsafe production practices have been reported in recent years. With Hyderabad being a major hub for food production, ensuring compliance with safety standards is essential to protect public health.

Authorities are now focusing on improving enforcement and have called for large-scale implementation of safer practices. In the case of Kohinoor Dairy, further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of the violations and whether other entities are involved in similar activities.

Also read: Chhattisgarh Grapples with Alarming Uranium Levels in Groundwater; 130 mg/L: Growing Health Crisis

The recurrence of such violations underscores the need for stricter regulations and more frequent inspections to prevent the production and sale of unsafe food products that could harm consumers.