With the festive season approaching, food safety enforcement officers and health department teams across Punjab have launched widespread inspections targeting sweet manufacturers and sweet shops. The primary focus of this extensive drive is the growing practice among sweet makers of replacing pure liquid milk with commercial milk powder, synthetic khoya, and vegetable fat mixtures to prepare festive sweets. Regulatory authorities are warning that using non-standardized milk solids and adulterated powders poses significant health hazards to consumers while misleading buyers about product quality
Rising Concern Over Milk Powder Substitution in Sweets
In recent weeks, health officials noted a sharp increase in the procurement of commercial skimmed milk powder and synthetic condensed solids by local sweet makers. Due to soaring demand for milk-based delicacies like burfi, rasgulla, gulab jamun, and kalakand, several manufacturers resort to shortcuts to cut production costs and bypass raw milk shortages. Instead of simmering pure buffalo or cow milk to make authentic mawa, manufacturers mix powdered milk with hydrogenated oils and starch to quickly prepare large batches of sweets.
Food Safety Regulations and Health Risks
Food safety experts warn that consuming sweets made with low-grade milk powders, unapproved additives, or emulsifiers can trigger acute gastrointestinal disorders, food poisoning, and long-term metabolic health issues. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines mandate that sweet vendors must clearly display display-board disclosures regarding whether sweets are prepared using fresh milk, mawa, or milk powder. Failing to disclose ingredient source details or using sub-standard, adulterated powder compounds violates food safety regulations and carries severe legal penalties.
Crackdown and Food Sampling Across Districts
Specialized task forces from the State Health Department have initiated surprise raids at manufacturing units, wholesale markets, and sweet shops across major Punjab cities including Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, and Patiala. Inspectors are collecting laboratory samples of mawa, paneer, milk powder, and finished sweets for immediate chemical testing. Authorities emphasized that sweet makers caught using banned chemical adulterants or misrepresenting synthetic sweet preparations as pure dairy products will face heavy fines, shop closures, and criminal prosecution.
Public Advisory for Festive Consumers
Health officials advise consumers to remain vigilant while purchasing sweets during festive occasions. Buyers are encouraged to purchase milk products exclusively from certified, FSSAI-registered sweet vendors who maintain clean hygiene standards. Consumers should check for fresh aroma, natural texture, and proper labeling, while avoiding abnormally bright, artificially colored, or suspiciously low-priced sweet items.
