Safety stick for milkmen

Milkmen found injecting cows with oxytocin for boosting milk production would not be spared the government rod, said animal and fish resources minister Giriraj Singh today.

Singh's announcement came at the inauguration of the two-day workshop on "Applications of Food Safety Act, 2006, in dairy industry" at Scada Business Centre. He said the state would ensure an effective implementation of the legislation. It lays down science-based standards for articles of food, regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import and ensures availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

The workshop has been organised by Bihar Agricultural Management and Extension Training Institute. Singh said: "Raids would be conducted and action taken against milkmen who would be found injecting cows with oxytocin for milk production." He added: "Food safety is the focus of persons everywhere. Twenty-five per cent diseases happen because food safety is not taken care of."

The minister's focus for food safety was not only milkmen but also products like mineral water and junk food.

Singh said although mineral water is considered cleaner than tap water, the product is not up to the standards. Similar was the case, Singh said, with junk food popular with youths.
He added: "Camps on food safety would be organised near colleges and universities to spread awareness among students. Samosas, which students are so fond of, are fried in the same oil over and over again. Youths are not aware that this affects them."

Singh said quality and purity of food had to be ensured both at the production and consumption level, for which the agriculture and animal and fish resources department had to play an important role.

K.M. Nath, retired joint director, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, New Delhi, said: "Food Safety Act, 2006, was implemented on August 5, 2011. The act was prepared with the motive to have a single legislation for all food products, to be controlled by a single department."

M.N. Singh, the director of Sanjay Gandhi Institute of Dairy Technology, Patna, said: "It is important to modify certain standards of dairy products to the international levels so that all items produced here are accepted worldwide."