PUNE: As many as 16 milk samples drawn during surprise inspections in six cities in the state failed to conform to the quality standards and five samples were found unsafe for consumption, revealed the latest report of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Total 121 samples were drawn during these checks. Mumbai accounted for the highest number of substandard and unsafe milk samples followed by Pune and Satara.
Food safety officials had conducted surprise inspections at dairies and milk processing units in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Satara and Sangli on May 26. The FDA had formed 16 teams to evaluate the quality of milk supplied in these areas, assess the current monitoring system and educate milk suppliers and distributors against adulteration and ensure that every supplier is registered with the FDA.
"We had drawn 10 milk samples from three different places in Mumbai. While drawing seven samples, the food safety officials caught erring traders mixing water in milk and the laboratory report confirmed presence of starch in the remaining three samples, labeling them unsafe for consumption. Of the 50 samples drawn in Pune, four samples were substandard and two were found unsafe. We drew 20 samples in Satara. Of them, five were substandard," Harshdeep Kamble state FDA commissioner told TOI.
"We have filed first information reports in cases found in Mumbai. We are also in the process of filing criminal cases against traders where milk samples were found unsafe in other areas," he added.
The units involved in milk adulteration in Mumbai's slum areas were razed during the drive. Our officials raided a unit which was involved in tampering with milk packets of branded companies. The unit was located at a slum in Pathanwadi in Malad (East).
In Pune, the officials had drawn 50 samples, of them, four were substandard and two were found unsafe.
"The substandard samples were from dairies and processing units in Baramati and Bhor areas. Most of the samples in Pune have been found safe and conforming to the standards," said Shashikant Kekare, joint commissioner (food), Pune.
This year's FDA report showed that a total of 1,754 samples were drawn in Maharashtra between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. Of them, 330 samples were of low quality and 94 samples were found unsafe for consumption.
The samples were taken from milk collection centres, tankers, processing units, local dairies and vendors and tested at notified public health laboratories. Officials have filed criminal cases against errant suppliers.
"We have filed 39 criminal cases where the samples were found unsafe. Besides, we have recovered a penalty to the tune of Rs 25.78 lakh in 148 cases," Kamble said.
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