UP dairy trader held for allegedly selling fake milk and paneer using chemicals

A businessman in Uttar Pradesh’s Bulandshahr has been held after he created 500 litres of fake milk using one litre of chemicals. According to the authorities, Ajay Agarwal—the owner of Agarwal Traders, who deals in milk and milk products—would mix artificial sweeteners and flavours in the chemicals to make it seem like real milk. He has been accused of selling synthetic milk and paneer for 20 years.

Officials from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) raided Agarwal’s shop and four godowns and seized the pre-mixed chemicals. “Agarwal has not yet revealed the chemicals he used to create the fake milk, but with only five mililitre of it, he could create up to two litres of fake milk,” an official told reporters. He added that Agarwal used flavouring agents so that no one could distinguish the synthetic milk from the real one by its appearance, taste, or smell.

According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, Agarwal had shared the synthetic milk formula with other milk sellers in his village. Moreover, some of the artificial sweeteners being added to the milk—that were seized by the authorities—had expired two years ago. Other chemicals seized from his godowns include caustic potash, whey powder, sorbitol, milk permeate powder, and refined soya fats.

Meanwhile, the police are questioning Agarwal to find out where he learned the formula from. Vinit Saxena, an official from the FSSAI, said that an investigation is also underway to find out who would buy the fake milk and milk products from Agarwal.

“We are also trying to find out where he has supplied these ‘milk’ products in the last six months,” he said.