Milk Adulteration

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) was established in 2008 under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 primarily for laying down science-based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption.

Food Safety and Standards Act 2006 and Rules and Regulations, lay down the quality and safety standards for various articles of food. Implementation and enforcement of these standards primarily lies with the State/UT Governments. Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection and sampling of food products from all sources i.e., manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, transporters, retail markets etc. are carried out by Food Safety Officers of States/UTs and in cases of non-compliance, penal action is taken against the defaulting Food Business Operators (FBOs) as per the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, Rules and Regulations.

In order to address the gaps in the food safety eco-system of States/UTs and to ensure safe and wholesome food through pooling of technical knowledge and best practices as a shared responsibility, FSSAI has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with States/ UTs to extend both technical and financial support to the States/UT Governments. FSSAI has extended financial support to States/UTs under a Central Sector Scheme for strengthening of food testing infrastructure. FSSAI has regularly urged States/UTs to carry out targeted enforcement and surveillance drive to check adulteration in food products. For on-the-spot testing of adulterants in milk and milk products particularly in remote areas, 170 mobile food testing laboratories equipped with rapid milk analyzer have been sanctioned/ provided to the States/UTs.

FSSAI has set up Food Safety Training & Certification (FoSTaC) ecosystem for widespread and effective delivery of food safety training to food businesses including dairy businesses across the value chain.

To check on the problem of milk adulteration in the country, FSSAI has advised the food safety authorities in States/ UTs to maintain a strict vigil on milk chilling units, intensify surveillance during festive seasons, follow a policy of periodic transfers in respect of FSOs and generate local intelligence regarding the malpractices and strengthen testing and enforcement infrastructure both physical as well as human.

The National Milk Safety and Quality Survey, 2018 was conducted by FSSAI. The details of the survey are available on the website of FSSAI i.e https://www.fssai.gov.in/upload/press_release/2019/10/5da973ffaefcfPress_Release_Milk_Survey_Report_18_10_2019.pdf

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharti Pravin Pawar stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.