Does the milk delivered at your doorstep meet the set quality standards and has enough nutritional value? Apparently, not in Gujarat. In one of the most comprehensive surveys across the country on packed and loose milk, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found 89 per cent of Gujarat's milk samples not conforming to standards.
Another lesser known fact was that the highest number of non-conforming milk samples that were collected from urban areas in India was from Gujarat cities. For instance in Gujarat, 75 of the 89 milk samples that were collected from cities were found lacking the desired Solid Not Fat (SNF) and fat content as mentioned on the cover. This was due to dilution of milk with water.
Higher the SNF, better the quality of milk, food and drugs department officials say. Interestingly, none of the packed and loose milk samples collected from rural areas were seen deviating from standards according to the FSSAI. Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP), generally used to increase volume of milk in lean season, was also noticed in a few samples in the state.
SNF is one of the most essential components of milk that consists of vitamins , minerals and nutritional components. The price of the milk is based on its SNF and fat contents. "We have intensified our vigil on the milk being sold in different regions. This is our first priority now. FSSAI had found dilution of milk to be a problem for Gujarat but found no harmful substances in milk being sold here unlike others states. Packaged milk is the safest by all standards," said state's food and drugs commissioner H G Koshia.
Managing director for Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) R S Sodhi said, "We have four levels of quality checks, one at the producer level in villages, then at the district units level, before processing milk at our dairies and after packaging of milk. Besides this there is individual dairy quality control and one belonging to GCMMF. It is at the smaller markets, one sees people breaking milk packets and selling them loose after adding water . But as far as packaged milk is concerned , we meet all standards."
FSSAI had refrained from using the word contaminated in its report but had warned Gujarat dairies that in the interest of customers, both packed and loose milk should meet the standards. FSSAI has warned people buying loose milk about the use of adulterants which could be neutralizers, hydrogen peroxide, sugar, starch, urea, salt, detergent , formalin and vegetable salt.
Another lesser known fact was that the highest number of non-conforming milk samples that were collected from urban areas in India was from Gujarat cities. For instance in Gujarat, 75 of the 89 milk samples that were collected from cities were found lacking the desired Solid Not Fat (SNF) and fat content as mentioned on the cover. This was due to dilution of milk with water.
Higher the SNF, better the quality of milk, food and drugs department officials say. Interestingly, none of the packed and loose milk samples collected from rural areas were seen deviating from standards according to the FSSAI. Skimmed Milk Powder (SMP), generally used to increase volume of milk in lean season, was also noticed in a few samples in the state.
SNF is one of the most essential components of milk that consists of vitamins , minerals and nutritional components. The price of the milk is based on its SNF and fat contents. "We have intensified our vigil on the milk being sold in different regions. This is our first priority now. FSSAI had found dilution of milk to be a problem for Gujarat but found no harmful substances in milk being sold here unlike others states. Packaged milk is the safest by all standards," said state's food and drugs commissioner H G Koshia.
Managing director for Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) R S Sodhi said, "We have four levels of quality checks, one at the producer level in villages, then at the district units level, before processing milk at our dairies and after packaging of milk. Besides this there is individual dairy quality control and one belonging to GCMMF. It is at the smaller markets, one sees people breaking milk packets and selling them loose after adding water . But as far as packaged milk is concerned , we meet all standards."
FSSAI had refrained from using the word contaminated in its report but had warned Gujarat dairies that in the interest of customers, both packed and loose milk should meet the standards. FSSAI has warned people buying loose milk about the use of adulterants which could be neutralizers, hydrogen peroxide, sugar, starch, urea, salt, detergent , formalin and vegetable salt.
No comments:
Post a Comment