Jan 11, 2012

Amul Welcomes FSSAI's Survey on Milk Adulteration

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF), the owner of Amul brand, today welcomed the nation-wide survey on milk adulteration by FSSAI, but opposed the findings on skimmed milk powder (SMP).

"It's good for the industry because rampant adulteration in milk shall get reduced with such surveys," GCMMF Managing Director R S Sodhi told PTI.

However, GCMMF is opposed to the findings on SMP. It's of the view that unless quality of the reconstituent milk made from SMP is not of specified standards, it cannot termed as adulterated.

"We don't sell powdered milk. The reconstituent milk made out of powder (SMP) cannot be called adulterated as long as it meets the specified standards," he said.

"There is little chance of mixing powder (SMP) with the loose milk," Sodhi said.

According to the survey conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), "the second highest parameter of non-conformity was the SMP in 548 samples (44.69 per cent) which includes presence of glucose in 477 samples....The presence of SMP indicates reconstitution of milk powder".

As per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, double toned, toned, standardised and full cream milk cannot be standardised for fat and solids by mixing SMP.

"During winters, the milk supply is 50 per cent in excess. So it is scientifically and hygienically converted into SMP by evaporating the water, with a view to conserve it," Sodhi said.

"The powder is made to conserve the milk in winters. It is sold later to meet the demand in summers, when supply is short. In some parts of the country people prefer to reconstitute powder into milk for consumption," he said.

The four-tier quality control check mechanism adopted at GCMMF ensures that quality milk is supplied to consumers, Sodhi said.

The National Survey on Milk Adulteration, 2011 was conducted by the regional offices of FSSAI in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, and Kolkata. A total of 1,791 samples were collected from 33 states.

The survey found that of the 1,791, only 565 -- 31.5 per cent -- samples conformed to FSSAI standards.

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