Surat: In a concerning development for food lovers in Surat, the city's Health Department has busted a racket selling fake cheese to hotels and restaurants. The department seized a large quantity of inedible cheese suspected to be used in popular dishes across the city.

The raid, conducted based on a tip-off, took place in the Pandesara Chikuwadi area. Health officials seized 230 kg of the suspicious cheese from a tempo (GJ-15-AX-1096) reportedly bringing the substance from Valsad. Investigations revealed Vishnusingh Virendrasingh Dhakare as the owner of the tempo, while Bharat Tomar, a resident of Pandesara, was identified as the distributor who bought the cheese for a significantly lower price than real cheese and sold it to hotels and restaurants in the area for a slightly higher profit.

Authorities suspecting the cheese to be inedible sent samples to a public health lab for further testing. A preliminary investigation confirmed the suspicion, leading to the destruction of the seized 230 kg batch. Further investigation is underway to identify the source and potential reach of this fake cheese racket.

This incident raises concerns about the quality of food served in Surat's restaurants and highlights the importance of stricter food safety regulations. The significantly lower price point of the fake cheese suggests it may have been made with harmful substitutes, potentially posing health risks to consumers.