Kataka: Raising concerns over food safety in Odisha, laboratory tests have found cottage cheese seized from Niali in Cuttack district was adulterated with starch and detergent, a health official of the Kataka Municpal Corporation (KMC) said on Wednesday.

Kataka Municpal Corporation (KMC) health official Nrupendra Satapathy said around 73 quintals of paneer and cottage cheese seized during enforcement drives was found to be unfit for human consumption. The test report, prepared by a laboratory in Haryana where the samples were sent for analysis, has been received by the Odisha State Food Safety Commissioner.

According to the preliminary findings, starch and detergent were mixed with the seized paneer and cottage cheese. Further investigation will determine whether any other chemicals or adulterants were used, Satapathy said.

He added action would be taken against the traders involved after receiving directions from the higher authorities.

Acting on the directions of Food Safety Commissioner Poma Tudu, enforcement teams had conducted raids at several locations in August and seized more than 70 quintals of adulterated paneer along with large quantities of stale and unhygienic food items.

Samples of the seized paneer were subsequently sent to a laboratory in Haryana for testing.