Detergent’
milk exposed, depts pass the buck
DIMAPUR,
MAR 24: How are the food safety standards laid down by the
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) Act being regulated
by our State Health Department? And how concerned are the authorities
about the health of the public?
These are the questions that are now
being raised.
A report was recently published by local dailies here on the contaminants found in the locally packaged milk product DIMUL as well as the ‘fresh’ milk supplied by local dairy farmers. However, even as days have passed, it is learnt that the report is yet to be probed.
While the testing done on the milk was not official, the testing kit, Adulteration Testing of Milk (ATM) developed by the Government of India, is authentic and so was the test result.
A Food Safety Officer (FSO) was also witness to the testing carried out on the different samples of milk.
The tests on the milk product revealed strong presence of detergents, urea, sodium chloride (common salt), maltose and traces of nitrate. It should be mentioned that DIMUL is the only pasteurised toned milk produced in the State.
Urea and detergent, which contains caustic soda, are very harmful to heart and liver among others. However, the State Health authorities seem unaware of the seriousness of the matter.
Health Minister Imkong L Imchen, when contacted by this reporter on Sunday evening, said he was not aware of the news report and so would not be able to comment on it.
Commissioner & Secretary for Health & Family Welfare Sentiyanger, on the other hand, told another reporter that until and unless the Veterinary department sends an official report seeking assistance, he will not be able to take any action.
A veterinary official, on his part, said it is not the responsibility of the Veterinary department to monitor adulteration of milk, though it is a produce of animals. Their duty is on the health of animals, he said.
Another Health department official said it is the duty of the Health Commissioner to direct food safety officers or the Food Safety Cell to collect samples and investigate on such reports.
“DIMUL Milk might be an autonomous corporative society. But when it comes to issues of public health, the Department of Health and Family Welfare should be held accountable on the quality being offered,” he said, on condition of anonymity.
It may also be noted that the concerned corporative society producing the milk in question has remained silent on the report.
And even as the various officials and departments pass the buck and remain least concerned, the question that arises is - whose concern is public health?
A report was recently published by local dailies here on the contaminants found in the locally packaged milk product DIMUL as well as the ‘fresh’ milk supplied by local dairy farmers. However, even as days have passed, it is learnt that the report is yet to be probed.
While the testing done on the milk was not official, the testing kit, Adulteration Testing of Milk (ATM) developed by the Government of India, is authentic and so was the test result.
A Food Safety Officer (FSO) was also witness to the testing carried out on the different samples of milk.
The tests on the milk product revealed strong presence of detergents, urea, sodium chloride (common salt), maltose and traces of nitrate. It should be mentioned that DIMUL is the only pasteurised toned milk produced in the State.
Urea and detergent, which contains caustic soda, are very harmful to heart and liver among others. However, the State Health authorities seem unaware of the seriousness of the matter.
Health Minister Imkong L Imchen, when contacted by this reporter on Sunday evening, said he was not aware of the news report and so would not be able to comment on it.
Commissioner & Secretary for Health & Family Welfare Sentiyanger, on the other hand, told another reporter that until and unless the Veterinary department sends an official report seeking assistance, he will not be able to take any action.
A veterinary official, on his part, said it is not the responsibility of the Veterinary department to monitor adulteration of milk, though it is a produce of animals. Their duty is on the health of animals, he said.
Another Health department official said it is the duty of the Health Commissioner to direct food safety officers or the Food Safety Cell to collect samples and investigate on such reports.
“DIMUL Milk might be an autonomous corporative society. But when it comes to issues of public health, the Department of Health and Family Welfare should be held accountable on the quality being offered,” he said, on condition of anonymity.
It may also be noted that the concerned corporative society producing the milk in question has remained silent on the report.
And even as the various officials and departments pass the buck and remain least concerned, the question that arises is - whose concern is public health?
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