Lok Sabha Question No. 90 (STARRED), answered on 2019-11-22
Subject: Adulteration of Milk and Milk Products
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Bidyut Baran Mahato, Sanjay Sadashivrao Mandlik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 90 TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22 ND NOVEMBER , 2019 ADULTERATION OF MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS

## *90. SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO: SHRI SANJAY SADASHIV RAO MANDLIK:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently issued an advis to  the  Government  stating  that  if  adulteration  of  milk  and  mi lk  products  is  not checked  immediately,  87  per  cent  of  citizens  would  likely  be  suffering serious diseases like cancer by the year 2025 and if so, the details thereo reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether around 68.7 per cent of mi lk and milk products sold in the country are not as per the standards laid down by the Food Safety and Standards Authori India  (FSSAI)  as  they  contain  detergent/  other  contaminants  like  urea,  s glucose and formalin which provide thickness and pr eserve the items for longer periods, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government theret
- (c) whether a Committee was constituted by the Government to equip the FSS with more powers to investigate the ground realities of the issue and submit its feedback and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) the major recommendations of the Committee along with the action taken the Government thereon; and
- (e)  whether  the  Government  has  urged  the  heads  of  all  agencies  involved checking adulteration  of  food  products  to  intensify  the  sampling  process checking  adulteration  of  food  products  and  if  so,  the  details  and  the  o thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

- (a) to ( e):  A statement is laid on the Table of the House

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 90* FOR 22 ND NOVEMBER , 2019

(a) No such advisory has been issued by World Health Organisation (WHO) to the Government of India and the same has been confirmed from WHO country office in India by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).

(b) No. The Nationwide Milk Safety and Quality Survey conducted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) in 2018 revealed that o nly 7% (456  out  of  total  6,432 samples)  had  contaminants  (antibiotics,  pesticides  an aflatoxin M 1) that make milk unsafe for consumption. Further , only12 out of a total  of  6,432  samples  had  adulterants  that  affect  the  safety  of  milk.  T samples  include  6  samples  adulterated  with  hydrogen  peroxide,  3  sampl es adulterated with detergents, 2 samples adulterated with urea and o ne sample was found to have neutralizers.

(c) &(d ) Nosuch Committee has been constituted by the Government.

(e): In order to ensure the availability of safe food products including mi consumers and for keeping a check on adulteration, Food Safety Commissioners States/UTs  have  been  advised  from  time  to  time  to  keep  a  strict  vigi intensifying  surve illance during  festive seasons  when  demand  of  milk  and  milk products    increase;  by  maintaining  strict  vigil  on  milk  chilling  units; regularly drawing food samples from all sources viz. manufacturers, wholes and retailers and to take strict ac tion ag inst the offenders under the provisions o FSS  Act,  2006.  They  have  also  been  advised  to  draw  milk  samples,  both  fr processing plants as well as raw milk, from all major cities and towns with on the areas where non - compliance was observed d uring the survey.

Regular surveillance, monitoring and inspection are being carried out b Officials  of  Food Safety  Departments of  the  respective  States/UTs  to  check compliance  of  the provisions  laid down  under  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act, 2006 and therules and regulations made thereunder. In cases where samples a found to be non - conforming to the prescribed norms and standards, penal action initiated against the defaulting FBOs as per the provisions of the penal pr under the Act.