Quality of milk raises questions

Come summer, milk will be flowing from neighbouring states, some being transported for more than 15 hours.

With sample testing of milk not happening for over a month now, owing to the shifting of responsibility to a different department, the quality of the milk coming in is likely to pose serious threats. Already there are charges that chemicals like sodium bicarbonate, formalin and hydrogen peroxide are being used as preservatives in some of the milk packets coming from outside the state.

This not only helps prevent the milk from turning sour, but also gives it an appearance of being fresh, say dairy farmers in the state. The adulteration is allegedly being carried out in chilled milk coming from as far as Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in insulated tanker lorries.

The deputy director of the diary department and other top officials admit that the chances of bringing in adulterated milk into the state were very high. However, under the new dispensation, the duty has been entrusted to the officials of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

 They said the food safety commission, the new law enforcement agency, has no facility to test the milk at check posts. Earlier, department officials used to undertake sample testing through their quality control wing. “There has been no effective sample testing or checking since the food safety authorities were entrusted with the job two months ago. Lack of effective checking will only increase the chances of adulteration in the milk and milk products,” said the Dairy Officers’ Association president, Mr Unni V. Normally, neutralisers are bound to be used as the milk will have to be transported for more than 15 hours from faraway places.

More than 8 lakh litres of milk comes from neighbouring states every day. The quantity will be higher in the hot days ahead and also with starting of the festival season, he adds. ”We managed to control adulteration by setting up temporary labs at the check posts and conducting regular raids in the market. However, I don’t think the new system can be effective as there is no infrastructure and technical expertise,” said the deputy director of the state dairy department, Mr Issac Thayyil.

 Earlier, three diary firms had been banned from trading in the market on grounds of selling adulterated milk. However, FSSA officials maintain that they are carrying out sample testing. “We are conducting routine checkups despite some infrastructure handicaps. We have asked the government to set up laboratories in all districts,” the technical assistant of the state food safety commissioner’s office, Mr D Sivakumar said.