Official says 68% Of Milk, Dairy Products in India not as per FSSAI standard

Mohan Singh Ahluwalia, a member of Animal Welfare Board of India, said that around 68.7% 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).

He said that the most common adulterants which are being used 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," Ahluwalia further stated.

The production of milk in India is registered at 14.68 crore litres per day till March 31, 2018. The 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 due to lack of hygiene and sanitation in handling and packaging, detergents used in washing containers mix with 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 added.

As per an advisory issued by The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently to the Government of India, 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.