Bhubaneswar: Laboratory tests of paneer seized from Cuttack in Aug have confirmed adulteration, with samples found to contain starch and a detergent-like substance.Nrupendra Kumar Satapathy, health officer of Cuttack Municipal Corporation, on Wednesday said around 71 quintals of paneer were seized from Cuttack last month. “Samples were sent to a food quality testing laboratory in Haryana. The report revealed that maida and a detergent-like substance were being used in the paneer,” he said.Satapathy said maida is a food product, but detergent poses a serious health risk.Abhimanyu Behera, a paneer trader from Niali in Cuttack district, denied use of detergent in paneer. “Hardly 2% to 5% of paneer makers use maida, but nobody in Niali adds detergent to soften paneer,” he said.Food safety authorities had conducted raids in the twin cities following reports of adulteration and unhygienic practices. In Cuttack, officials seized 71 quintals of suspected adulterated paneer worth Rs 17.75 lakh and 66 kg of stale food during raids on Aug 18 and 19. Cuttack Municipal Corporation seized the paneer from multiple locations and sent samples for testing.State health minister Mukesh Mahaling had urged people to avoid consuming or buying unhygienic and unsafe food. He advised citizens to contact the food safety director’s helpline or send an email to the office for information on food standards and related complaints.