Jammu, August 27
The failure of the government to release funds for the purchase of mobile testing laboratories to check milk adulteration has scuttled efforts of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (MC) to start a major drive against the influx of poor quality products in the city. Consumers are being exposed to contaminated and poor quality milk products due to the delay.
The proposal on mobile testing laboratories was mooted last year after an alarming report by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012 that 83 per cent of the milk being sold in urban areas and districts of the state was not safe for consumption.
The FSSAI had taken 18 samples from different areas of the state as part of its nationwide study and had found that the most common adulteration in the state was of glucose and skimmed milk products, which were being mixed with the intention of earning profit at the expense of the heath of the common man.
“We are dependent on the laboratory, which takes days for the outcome of results, including finding the use of synthetic products. Mobile testing laboratories can provide us a tool for on-the-spot checking,” said a municipal officer.
MC Health Officer Vinod Sharma said, “The government has told us that funds will be released and are at final stage of approval. We are lifting samples and sending those to the laboratory.” He said modern equipment was necessary to curb adulteration.
A senior MC official said the civic body had been fighting a losing battle against adulteration in the city as it did not have the facility and equipment required to test milk and milk products.
“We are launching a regular campaign, but it takes weeks to get test reports, resulting in a delay in starting prosecution. There is a need for mobile laboratories and trained manpower to deal with the menace of adulteration,” he said.
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