Report on milk adulteration finds 11 samples unsafe

56 convicted and Rs. 6 lakh penalty imposed, Health Secretary tells HC

The State government has informed the Madras High Court that out of the 338 milk/ milk product samples lifted from 32 districts in the State between August 5, 2016 and May 31, 2017, eleven were found to be unsafe, 132 substandard and misbranded.

Micro organisms

“Out of the 11 unsafe samples, six are due to the presence of colours Tartrazine – 3, Rhodamine – 2 and Carmoisine – 1. The remaining five samples were found with micro organisms like Coliform-3, Detergent-1, Yeast and Mould-1. Totally 83 cases were registered in which 56 were convicted and penalty imposed to the tune of Rs. 6 lakh,” the report field by the J. Radhakrishnan, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department said.

Mr. Radhakrishnan made the submissions on a PIL filed by advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam seeking proper action by the authorities concerned on the allegations of milk adulteration in the State.

Survey conducted

The Health Secretary filed the detailed status report on the action taken to curb milk adulteration across the State. The report added that as per the instructions of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, New Delhi, a survey was conducted in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem, Ambattur, Tirunelveli, and Hosur for the period from November 2016 to December, 2016.

Out of 106 milk samples tested, two were reported unsafe, 22 substandard, and 82 as conforming to standards, he added.

Out of a total of 32 fresh samples lifted from Vellore, Thiruchi, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Madurai and Ramanathapuram between February 1 and March 31, none was found to be unsafe, eight turned out to be substandard due to dilution with water and addition of vegetable fats, the report said.

The government further informed the High Court that through a government order dated June 15, State and district-level steering committees to check adulteration had been reconstituted by including the Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Dairy and Fisheries Department, Director of Milk Production and Dairy Development, and the Deputy Registrar (Dairy).