SRINAGAR: The tons of milk acquired from various sources in or outside
the Kashmir Valley does not undergo systematic daily testing for
purity, risking the health of around 70, 00,000 population.
Around 30 lakh litres of milk produced locally reaches consumers daily without any testing by the state authorities. Similarly, two to three tankers of milk imported from neighboring states each day reach the suppliers without any inspection by the authorities.
“The milk from local producers or from outside state reaches the market after being tested by the producers or suppliers themselves,” sources told Kashmir Reader. “The state authorities pick up samples from the market randomly or whenever there are complaints. But there is no system for daily sampling and testing of milk or milk products.”
The situation reflects the health risk Valley’s populace may be up against considering that more than 80 per cent of milk produced in the state contains adulterants as was revealed by a Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) survey last year.
The Valley has just one laboratory for testing of milk and other food samples, which is acutely short of staff and equipment.
According to the sources, the recent tests have revealed that 20 percent of the milk in Kashmir is adulterated. “The samples we receive and test show 20 percent milk and 30 percent oil and spices used in Kashmir are adulterated. The milk is mostly contaminated with starch or has low fat quantity in it,” they said.
The sources, however, expressed fear that the milk and milk products could be containing harmful contaminants too.
“The large quantity of milk imported from the neighboring states could have synthetic adulterations, but it reaches suppliers without any testing or inspection. Similarly, the packaged milk could be containing harmful preservatives,” they said.
Kashmir is still following 1956 Prevention of Food Adulteration Act unlike other states where Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 warrants stern action against violators of the norms, besides proper sampling and testing of food items.
Recently, the J&K High Court, in response to a PIL seeking implementation of FSSA, had also expressed dissatisfaction over performance of government authorities including Srinagar Municipal Corporation in checking food adulteration. The court issued six directions to authorities as a track “to ensure people of the state are provided safe food items and eatables”.
The Drug Controller of the state, Satish Gupta, admitted that testing is done randomly and not on a daily basis.
“We are dependent on the field staff for sampling. They do it randomly or whenever complaints are received from anywhere,” Gupta told Kashmir Reader.
About the testing of the packaged milk supplied by private suppliers, he said, “They have their own testing mechanism. They test the milk before sending it to the market. They do not have to submit any reports.”
The Health Officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Rubeena, however, said milk and milk products were routinely tested.
“Not on a daily basis, but we routinely go to the market and test the milk and milk products. Any contaminated or sub-standard material is destroyed on the spot,” she said.
Around 30 lakh litres of milk produced locally reaches consumers daily without any testing by the state authorities. Similarly, two to three tankers of milk imported from neighboring states each day reach the suppliers without any inspection by the authorities.
“The milk from local producers or from outside state reaches the market after being tested by the producers or suppliers themselves,” sources told Kashmir Reader. “The state authorities pick up samples from the market randomly or whenever there are complaints. But there is no system for daily sampling and testing of milk or milk products.”
The situation reflects the health risk Valley’s populace may be up against considering that more than 80 per cent of milk produced in the state contains adulterants as was revealed by a Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) survey last year.
The Valley has just one laboratory for testing of milk and other food samples, which is acutely short of staff and equipment.
According to the sources, the recent tests have revealed that 20 percent of the milk in Kashmir is adulterated. “The samples we receive and test show 20 percent milk and 30 percent oil and spices used in Kashmir are adulterated. The milk is mostly contaminated with starch or has low fat quantity in it,” they said.
The sources, however, expressed fear that the milk and milk products could be containing harmful contaminants too.
“The large quantity of milk imported from the neighboring states could have synthetic adulterations, but it reaches suppliers without any testing or inspection. Similarly, the packaged milk could be containing harmful preservatives,” they said.
Kashmir is still following 1956 Prevention of Food Adulteration Act unlike other states where Food Safety Standards Act (FSSA) 2006 warrants stern action against violators of the norms, besides proper sampling and testing of food items.
Recently, the J&K High Court, in response to a PIL seeking implementation of FSSA, had also expressed dissatisfaction over performance of government authorities including Srinagar Municipal Corporation in checking food adulteration. The court issued six directions to authorities as a track “to ensure people of the state are provided safe food items and eatables”.
The Drug Controller of the state, Satish Gupta, admitted that testing is done randomly and not on a daily basis.
“We are dependent on the field staff for sampling. They do it randomly or whenever complaints are received from anywhere,” Gupta told Kashmir Reader.
About the testing of the packaged milk supplied by private suppliers, he said, “They have their own testing mechanism. They test the milk before sending it to the market. They do not have to submit any reports.”
The Health Officer of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Rubeena, however, said milk and milk products were routinely tested.
“Not on a daily basis, but we routinely go to the market and test the milk and milk products. Any contaminated or sub-standard material is destroyed on the spot,” she said.