Industry Banks On Technology For Milk Safety

In October 2019, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) released a full report after carrying out a survey on safety and quality of liquid milk in the country. Although the survey results hint towards demolishing milk adulteration perception, an in-depth analysis of the report reveals that 1 in 10 packets of milk purchased by consumers could be unsafe. Hence more is required in the dairy sector in order to address the issue of milk adulteration at all levels. On a whole, further steps are required to be taken to achieve transparency and efficiency in the dairy sector of India through public private partnership and best use of technology.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

Public confidence in the safety and quality of milk and milk products has been adversely affected in the recent past due to speculated large scale adulteration of milk and milk products in the country. From January 2018 to April 2019, Department of Food Safety, Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, had tested 2,880 food samples out of which 477 products failed the quality test. Milk and milk products accounted for 161 of the failed tests, of which 21 products were misbranded and 125 were found to be substandard.

The Department had observed that mostly milk samples fail to meet standard because the fats or solids not-fat content is less than the standards mentioned in the Act. Sometimes cows produce milk that is not up to the standard. Also, milk may contain adulterants like sugar or glucose, which might not be harmful for health but an adulterant nonetheless. However, in case of unsafe milk, there could be adulterants like soda and hydrogen peroxide, which is harmful to health. Contaminants like mycotoxins and antibiotics can also find their way in the milk, if the fodder or the milk is not handled properly at the farm.