Key Points:
Dr Sunita Sayammagaru flagged puffed Milky Mist paneer packets.
One packet swelled two weeks before expiry.
Another puffed up 10 days before expiry.
Products were bought from Ratnadeep supermarket.
Paneer was refrigerated within 15 minutes.
Cheese and tofu from the same purchase were normal.
Milky Mist said the batch was made on February 9, 2026.
Company reported no other complaints from the batch.
A viral social media post by a doctor has raised concerns about the safety and quality of packaged paneer after two packets of Milky Mist paneer were found puffed up weeks before their expiry dates. The dairy company later responded, saying its internal quality checks found no issues with the batch mentioned in the complaint.
The issue came to light on March 3, 2026, when Dr. Sunita Sayammagaru, who uses the handle @drsunita02 on X (formerly Twitter), shared photos and details of two paneer packets that appeared swollen despite still being within their expiry dates.
In her post, Dr. Sayammagaru said a packet of Milky Mist High Protein Paneer had puffed up even though the expiry date was still two weeks away. She added that she had experienced a similar issue with a regular Milky Mist paneer packet purchased a few days earlier, which also puffed up despite having around ten days left before expiry.
According to her post, the paneer was bought from the supermarket Ratnadeep and was refrigerated within 15 minutes of purchase, suggesting that the cold chain was maintained after she bought the product.
She also noted that she had purchased cheese and tofu during the same shopping trip, and both products remained normal. This raised questions about why only the paneer packets showed signs of spoilage.
The post quickly gained traction online, with several users sharing their own concerns about packaged dairy products.
Some users suggested that puffed packaging can indicate microbial activity or spoilage, while others discussed the importance of proper refrigeration during transport and retail storage.
A few users advised consumers not to use dairy products with swollen packaging and said such products should ideally be removed from sale by retailers.
Following the viral post, Milky Mist Dairy responded through its official X account. The company initially apologized for the inconvenience and asked Dr. Sayammagaru to share her contact details through a direct message so that the team could investigate the issue.
Later, the company issued a clarification stating that the paneer packet shown in the social media post belonged to a batch produced on February 9, 2026.
According to Milky Mist, internal quality checks and control samples from the same batch showed no issues. The company said that about 6,100 kilograms of paneer were produced in that batch and that no other customer complaints had been reported.
Milky Mist also stated that some claims circulating online did not accurately reflect the facts of the case.
The company explained that 'puffing in packaged dairy products can occur if refrigeration is not maintained properly after the product reaches retail stores.' Improper storage during transportation or at retail outlets can sometimes affect dairy products even if they leave the manufacturing facility in good condition.
Milky Mist said it takes consumer feedback seriously and maintains strict quality control standards. The company added that product safety and quality remain its top priorities.
(Rh/ARC)
