Sep 7, 2018
68% Of Milk, Dairy Products Violate FSSAI Standards, Says Punjab Official
Around 68.7 per cent of milk, milk products sold in India is not as per standards
LUDHIANA:
Around 68.7 per cent of milk and milk products sold in the country is not as per the standards laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), a member of the Animal Welfare Board said Wednesday.
Mohan Singh Ahluwalia, member, Animal Welfare Board of India said the most common adulterants are detergent, caustic soda, glucose, white paint and refined oil.
"The state of adulteration in milk and milk products in the country is such that 68.7 per cent of milk and milk products sold is not as per the standards laid down by the FSSAI," he said.
Quoting a report by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr Ahluwalia said 89.2 per cent of such products are adulterated in one form or the other.
He said the production of milk in the country up to March 31, 2018 has been registered at 14.68 crore litres per day against the consumption of 480 grams per capita per day.
The member was chairing a meeting of heads of different departments in Ludhiana.
He added that adulteration in milk is more prevalent in northern states as compared to the southern states.
Mr Ahluwalia said the National Survey on Milk Adulteration had conducted a survey some years back and found that due to lack of hygiene and sanitation in handling and packaging, detergents used in washing containers and other surfaces find their way into milk and milk products.
"However, detergent and other contaminants like urea, starch, glucose and formalin are also used to deliberately adulterate milk as they provide thickness and preserve the milk for longer periods," he said.
The Animal Welfare Board member said the adulterants in milk are hazardous and can cause irreversible damage to human organs.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) had recently issued an advisory to the Government of India stating that if adulteration of milk and milk products is not checked immediately, 87 per cent of citizens would be suffering from serious diseases like cancer by the year 2025.
Mr Ahluwalia warned that with excessive use of pesticides, even wheat is getting poisonous in north India, which is a "dangerous trend".
He urged the heads of all agencies involved in checking adulteration of food products to intensify the sampling process.
COMMENT
"With a view to equipping the Food Safety and Standards Act with more teeth, a committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitely. The committee will investigate the ground realities of the issue and submit feedback," the member said while chairing another meeting at Nawanshahr.
Adulterated milk: Official says 68% milk & milk products in India not as per FSSAI standard
A not so favourable news for Indians where milk is widely used than any other country in the world. Mohan Singh Ahluwalia, member, Animal Welfare Board of India yesterday said around 68.7 percent of milk and milk products sold in India is not as per the standards prescribed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
Ahluwalia said the most common adulterants that are being used are caustic soda, detergent, white paint, glucose, and refined oil. He further quoted a report by the Ministry of Science and Technology, which said 89.2 per cent of such products are adulterated in one form or the other.
As mentioned by him adulteration in milk was more in the Northern states as compared to the southern states of India.
Ahluwalia further said that as per a survey conducted by the National Survey on Milk Adulteration a few years back, it was found that because of deficiency in maintaining hygiene and sanitation in handling and packaging, detergents used in washing containers mix with milk and milk products.
He said, “However, detergent and other contaminants like urea, starch, glucose and formalin are also used to deliberately adulterate milk as they provide thickness and preserve the milk for longer periods.” He said this in a meeting of heads of different departments and members in Ludhiana.
He said the adulterants in milk are hazardous and can cause irreversible damage to human organs. As per an advisory issued by The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently to the Government of India declared that if adulteration of milk and milk products is not checked immediately, 87 per cent of citizens would be suffering from serious diseases like cancer by the year 2025. Ahluwalia cautioned the excessive use of pesticides is a “dangerous trend” and all agencies associated with checking adulteration of food products to intensify the sampling process.
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is an autonomous body set under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India under the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 with an aim to implement food safety and regulation in India as well as protecting and promoting public health.
India is the world’s largest milk producer and milk products due to country’s wide ruse of milk-related products.
Food safety team intercepts palm oil tankers
Nawanshshr, September 6
In continuation of drive under Tandrust Punjab Mission, Food Safety Team of Nawanshahr, comprising Assistant Commissioner Food Manoj Khosla and Food Safety Officer Sangeeta Sehdev, laid a naka at Garhshankar Road, Nawanshahr to check food items being transported from other states.
Two tankers carrying refined palm oil having capacity of 28MT and 27MT, were being transported by two companies of Kutch Gujarat, namely Louis Dreyfus Company India private limited and Cargill India private limited to ITC Ltd food division Tahliwal district Una (HP).
The samples of refined palm oil were taken from each tanker, which will be sent for analysis. Further action will be taken if any sample failed the quality norms.
Well water quality to be tested in flood-hit areas
The district administration on Thursday said that most flood-hit houses had been cleaned up and were fit for occupation.
Initiative by PCB and Haritha Keralam Mission on September 8 and 9
The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) and Haritha Keralam Mission will jointly test the water quality in wells in flood-hit areas in the district on September 8 and 9.
The Local Self Governments Department, Food Safety Commissionerate, and the Kerala Water Authority will participate in the initiative. Water in wells that were chlorinated as part of post-disaster cleaning work will also be tested.
Accordingly, water in 16,232 wells in areas falling under one flood-affected municipality and panchayat in six districts will be tested on a pilot basis. Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Vaikkom, North Paravur, Chalakudy and Kalpetta municipalities and Thalavadi, Ranni, Angadi, Thiruvarppu, Kalady, Mala and Padinjarethara panchayats will be covered in the first phase. The PCB will supply kits for water testing, which will be carried out by volunteers of National Service Scheme units in each district under the supervision of the panchayat or municipal authorities and peoples’ representatives. Volunteers have been trained as a prelude to the exercise.
Volunteers will have to upload details on a dedicated mobile app created for the purpose. The results will be published on the PCB website as well, besides sending them to panchayat secretaries and owners of wells.
A decision on follow-up examinations and quality assessment of well water in the affected areas will be taken at a meeting to be held at the Ernakulam guest house on September 10. Minister for Local Self Governments A.C. Moideen will chair the meeting.
Cleaning
Meanwhile, the district administration on Thursday said that 99.50% flood-hit houses had been cleaned up and were fit for occupation.
Panchayat Deputy Director K.V. Malathy said that out of the 1,75,415 affected houses in the district, 1,74,548 had been cleaned up. The remaining 867 houses are either unoccupied or in a dilapidated condition.
All schools have been cleaned up, while 98.68% of public establishments and 82% of wells have been sanitised. The cleaning drive was completed with the help of agencies like the Haritha Keralam Mission, Suchitwa Mission, employees of various departments, and volunteers within and outside the State. like Maharashtra, Punjab, and Odisha.
Removal of waste, including toilet waste, and other sanitation work are under way in the district under the aegis of the Haritha Kerala Mission and Suchitwa Mission. Panchayat Secretaries have been asked work in tandem with Health officials to check the outbreak of epidemics.
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