The Erode-based dairy company said it had received no official communication from food safety authorities amid increased scrutiny of paneer quality and labelling compliance
Erode-based dairy company Milky Mist Dairy Food has clarified that it has not received any notice from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department regarding an inquiry into its paneer products. The clarification follows media reports alleging that the central food safety regulator had directed Tamil Nadu authorities to collect samples of Milky Mist paneer for laboratory testing after concerns were raised about its quality.
In a regulatory filing to stock exchanges on 10 October, the company said it had not received any official communication from either authority regarding an inquiry into its paneer products. “The company will appropriately respond to any communication received from the concerned authorities and take necessary action, if any, in accordance with applicable law,” it said.
The development comes amid increased scrutiny of paneer quality, with food safety authorities stepping up action against adulterated and analogue paneer products. Analogue paneer uses ingredients such as vegetable fats in place of, or alongside, conventional dairy ingredients.
In late September, news agency PTI reported that the FSSAI had initiated action over misleading claims and labelling violations on products sold through quick-commerce platforms Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket. The products flagged included Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd and Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt.
Separately, food safety officials in Karnataka inspected a distribution unit on Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru. According to a report by The New Indian Express on Saturday, officials seized expired products, including plain caramel, Nestlé Milkmaid and Milky Mist khoa, and identified labelling deficiencies at the facility.
Milky Mist began as a milk trading business in 1985, entered paneer manufacturing in 1994 and established its brand identity in 1997. The company has since expanded its value-added dairy portfolio to more than 400 products, including cheese, curd, butter, ghee, ice cream, chocolates and ready-to-cook items. Its brands include Milky Mist, SmartChef, Capella, Misty Lite, Briyas and Asal.
