Fight against milk adulteration
Jammu, Sept. 23: Failure of government to release funds for purchase of mobile testing labs to check milk adulteration has scuttled the efforts Health Department of Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to start major drive against the influx of poor quality products in the city. The proposal was mooted last year after an alarming report by Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) in January 2012 that 83 per cent of milk sold in urban and districts of the state is not safe for consumption.
A senior Municipal officer said that civic body is fighting a losing battle against the adulteration in the city as it does not have required facility and equipment to test milk and its products.
Though regular campaign has been launched to deal with the menace but it takes weeks to get result reports resulting in delay in starting prosecution process against the culprits. There is need to greater number of mobile labs and trained manpower to deal with the menace of adulteration and safeguard public health.
FSSAI had taken 18 samples from different areas of the state as part of its nationwide study and had found that most common adulteration in the state is Glucose and Skimmed Milk Products (SMP), mixed with intention to earn profit at the expenses of heath of the common man.
"So far we are dependent on the lab which takes days for the outcome of results, including for finding use of synthetic products. Mobile labs can provide us tool for on spot checking", said a municipal officer.
When contacted Health Officer JMC, Dr. Vinod Sharma said, "Till funds are released we are dependent on our existing labs".
A senior Municipal officer said that civic body is fighting a losing battle against the adulteration in the city as it does not have required facility and equipment to test milk and its products.
Though regular campaign has been launched to deal with the menace but it takes weeks to get result reports resulting in delay in starting prosecution process against the culprits. There is need to greater number of mobile labs and trained manpower to deal with the menace of adulteration and safeguard public health.
FSSAI had taken 18 samples from different areas of the state as part of its nationwide study and had found that most common adulteration in the state is Glucose and Skimmed Milk Products (SMP), mixed with intention to earn profit at the expenses of heath of the common man.
"So far we are dependent on the lab which takes days for the outcome of results, including for finding use of synthetic products. Mobile labs can provide us tool for on spot checking", said a municipal officer.
When contacted Health Officer JMC, Dr. Vinod Sharma said, "Till funds are released we are dependent on our existing labs".
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