Tamil Nadu-based dairy manufacturer Milky Mist Dairy Food Limited has clarified that it has not received any notice or directive from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) or the Tamil Nadu Food Safety Department initiating an inquiry into its paneer products.
The clarification comes after media reports and social media posts claimed that the central regulator had instructed state food safety authorities to collect and test samples of Milky Mist paneer following alleged quality concerns.
In a regulatory filing submitted to stock exchanges on Saturday, October 10, the company said it had received no official order, notice, or communication from either regulator regarding its paneer. Milky Mist added that it would respond appropriately to any formal queries from authorities and take action in accordance with applicable laws.
The development follows increased regulatory scrutiny across the packaged dairy sector. In late September, news agency PTI reported that the FSSAI had initiated action over misleading claims and non-compliant labelling on products sold through quick-commerce platforms Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket. The products flagged in that instance included Milky Mist Fresh Low Fat Cream, Milky Mist Farm Fresh Curd, and Milky Mist Greek Yoghurt.
Separately, local enforcement authorities in Karnataka recently conducted inspections at a distribution unit on Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru. According to a report by The New Indian Express on Saturday, officials seized expired goods, including plain caramel, Nestlé Milkmaid, and Milky Mist khoa, while identifying labelling deficiencies at the site.
Founded as a milk trading firm in 1985, Milky Mist began producing paneer in 1994 and launched the brand identity in 1997. Over three decades, the company has grown into a major value-added dairy player with a portfolio exceeding 400 products, covering cheese, curd, butter, ghee, ice cream, chocolates, and ready-to-cook items under brands including Milky Mist, SmartChef, Capella, Misty Lite, Briyas, and Asal.