Food safety department sends notice to supplier of Amul milk product

AGRA: Food safety department of Firozabad has issued a notice to Amul milk productsupplier and distributor after the department found less fat content in milk against the declared percentage on the milk packet.

The matter came to light after the FSDA collected a sample of Amul milk in the month of June this year from milk outlets in Firozabad and sent their samples to government laboratory of Varanasi for examination.

Speaking to TOI, Virendra Singh Kushwaha, the chief food safety officer said, "After collecting the samples of Amul milk, we first took it to a nearby private laboratory to check if the milk content is according to set parameters. The result revealed that fat content was .8% less against the declared 6%. To recheck, we took the sample to another private lab, and again the same result was found. Finally, we decided to send the sample to Varanasi lab, so as to take legal action against the supplier and distributor of milk."

He said, "In summer months, to meet the increased demand for milk, suppliers often mix water in their products to increase the milk quantity, which results in less fat content."

"The Varanasi lab also confirmed that Amul milk sample had only 5.2 % fat. We have now sent notice to Neelam milk agency of Firozabad, the prime distributor of milk product in the district and Garima Milk and Food Product of Dholpur, a packager and supplier of Amul products in Western UP district. If they wish, the two can challenge the lab results and samples will be again sent to Kolkata laboratory. But if they accept the report, then we will levy hefty penalty for low quality milk product," he added.

The lab report was shared to additional city magistrate Sheetla Prasad Yadav, who directed FSDA to send the notice to two concern parties.

Speaking on the lab report of less fat content in Amul milk, the prime distributor Neelam Agency owner Pankaj said, "Whatever product the supplier provides us, we distribute it. Appropriate reply will be given to FSDA separately from our agency and Garima Milk and Food Product of Dholpur."