NEW DELHI: Taking cognizance of a TOI report on rampant milk adulteration in the capital, the Delhi high court on Wednesday sought a response from the Central and state governments by January 25. 

A bench of acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajiv Shah took suo motu note of the report that 70 per cent of the milk samples picked up from the city were found to be contaminated, in a survey. HC issued notice to the city government’s food adulteration department and the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), which comes under the Central government. 

The report highlighted adulteration of milk relying on a survey by a government agency.

The FSSAI survey was conducted across the country and “elsewhere in the 33 states and UTs studied, milk was found adulterated with detergent, fat and even urea, besides the age-old dilution with water. Across the country, 68.4% of the samples were found contaminated.” 

According to FSSAI, 70 per cent of the milk samples, taken for testing from the capital, were found to be contaminated with glucose and skimmed milk powder. 

The report further claimed that almost 69% of the samples tested by the government agency across the country were found to be adulterated with detergent, fat and even urea, besides water. According to the report, the samples taken for testing by FSSAI from urban areas included both packed as well as loose milk. 

The Delhi government has instructed big milk suppliers in the capital to adhere to prescribed safety standards by establishing a number of checks and balances at every stage and upgrade their laboratories. 

Health Minister A K Walia chaired a meeting with big milk suppliers on Wednesday. “The test of milk quality and purity should be conducted at the first level, that is, procurement of milk from initial producers, in-house testing during processing of the milk and random testing by way of picking up a few marketed pouches of milk from various localities,” said Walia.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Adulterated-milk-HC-asks-govt-to-reply-by-January-25/articleshow/11454564.cms

 

Earlier Post/articles,

Contaminated and adulterated ‘Branded’ India’s Honey

WAR against western investments/companies by india?