Over 800 kg Synthetic 'Mawa' Seized in Surat Raid Ahead of Festive Season Demand

Food safety inspectors and the Local Crime Branch (LCB) intercepted a major adulteration racket in Surat’s Sarthana area, seizing more than 800 kilograms of spurious mawa (khoya) being processed under unsanitary conditions to target peak festival demand.

Acting on a targeted tip-off, joint teams raided a manufacturing unit in the dense residential cluster of Sarthana on Tuesday. Officers recovered massive batches of synthetic milk solids crafted using industrial chemical additives, cheap vegetable oils, and starch compounds designed to replicate the texture and taste of genuine dairy products.

The seized consignment, valued at thousands of rupees, was intended for distribution across local sweet shops and dairy outlets throughout Surat and neighboring districts. Authorities sealed the premises immediately and drew chemical samples for urgent laboratory analysis at the state food testing facility.

Officials from the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) noted that illicit operators frequently scale up synthetic mawa production ahead of major religious festivals, when market demand outstrips natural dairy supply. Consumption of such adulterated milk products poses severe health risks, including acute gastroenteritis, food poisoning, and long-term hepatic damage due to chemical contaminants.