Lok Sabha Question No. 924 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-02-08
Subject: Adulterated Milk
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: RAMA DEVI, MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 924 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08 TH FEBRUARY, 2019

## ADULTERATED MILK

## 924. SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI: SHRI MANSUKHBHAI DHANJIBHAI VASAVA:

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

- (a) whether adulterated milk harmful for health is being sold in the markets of the countr
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the provisions made by the Government in this regard;
- (d) the steps taken by the Government for the strict implementation of the said provi provide quality milk to people in the country; and
- (e) the results achieved so far in this regard?

## ANSWER T HE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a): Complaints of sub - standard and adulterated milk being sold  in the market have come to the notice of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). As the Implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006 primarily lies with Stat Governments, all such complaints have been forwarded to concerned Food Safety Commissioners of States/UTs for  taking strict action as per provisions contained in the Rules, Regulations made thereunder.
- (b): As  per  the  information  received  from  State  /UT  Governments,  the  number  of  mi lk samples  analysed,  found  non - conforming  to  the  prescribed  standards  and  penal  action  taken against concerned Food Business Operators (FBOs) for the year 2017 - 18  is at Annexure .

Further, Food  Safety  and  Standards  Authority  of  India  (FSSAI)  had  conducte d  a Nationwide  Qualitative  Screening  of  milk  samples  for  on - spot  qualitative  and  quantitative analysis of milk samples for quality parameters viz. FAT, Solids - Not- Fat ( SNF), added water, protein content and safety parameters viz. 13 adulterants, antibiotic s, pesticides and aflatoxin M1 covering around 1100 towns across the country. A uniform protocol and precise sampling was followed with trained manpower and well equipped laboratory. This survey was intended help in identification of hotspots and r ot cause analysis for the same; and also designing and operation of a framework for continuous monitoring of milk quality.

The Survey was conducted from  May to November 2018, through M/s VIMTA Labs with  a  sample  size  of  approx.  6000  samples  for  qualitative  analysis  and  1800  sample quantitative analysis. The interim report of National Milk Safety and Quality Survey 20 been released on 13 th November, 2018 and is available on FSSAI website i.e. www.fssai.gov.in. As per the  interim report,  about 39% of milk samples were non -compliant with reference to quality parameters (fat, SNF, sugar and maltodextrin)  but were without any safety issues.

Only 9.9% samples were found to be unsafe for consumption. Thus, National Milk Safet and Quality Survey, 2018 broadly suggests that milk in India  is largely safe .

(c) : Quality and identity standards of milk are specified in  regulation 2.1.2 of Food Safety and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011 as amended fro time to time.This regulation specifies minimum fat and solids not fat (snf) content in quality parameters. These standards were revised on   12 .10.2017 .  In the revised regulation, 'General Standards for Milk and Milk Products' have been provided which includes definition of  milk,  reconstituted  milk  and  recombined  milk.  These  standards  are  in  alignment  wit codex standards (General Standard For The Use Of Dairy Terms; Codex standard 206 - 1999). Further,  'Standards  For  Milk'  includes  new  definition  of  species  identified  milk  and  revised definitions  for  Full  Cream  Milk,  Standardized  Milk,  Toned  Milk,  Double  Toned  Milk,  a Skimmed Milk. In add ition, quality standards for cow milk have been made uniform throughou the country and quality standards for camel milk have also been introduced.

(i) Microbiological  standards  of  milk  are  specified  in  'Appendix  B'  of  Food  Safety  and Standards (Food Product Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011.

(ii) Maximum  limit  of  heavy  metals  and  residues  of  pesticides  and  antibiotics/veteri drugs in milk are specified in Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and res Regulations, 2011.

(iii) Specifi c hygienic and sanitary practices to be followed by dairy business operato ensure safety of milk are mentioned in Part III of schedule IV in Food Safety and Sta (Licensing and Registration of Food businesses) Regulations, 2011.

The above - mentioned standards of milk have been framed largely in accordance with th standards  specified  by  Codex  Alimentarius  Commission(established  by  FAO  and  WHO  )  to protect consumer health and promote fair practices in food trade.

(d)& (e) : In order to make available good quality foodstuffs  including milk to the consu and  for  keeping  a  check  on  the  problems  of  food  adulteration  in  the  country,  the  sta authorities have been advised from time to time to keep a strict vigil by regula rly drawing food samples from all sources viz. manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and to take stri against the offenders under the provisions of FSS Act, 2006. Implementation and enforcement of FSS Act, 2006 primarily lies with State/UT Gove rnments.

Contd…….

Regular surveillance, monitoring and inspection are being carried out by the Officials of Food Safety Departments of the respective States/ UTs to check compliance of the provi laid  down  under  Food  Safety  and  Standards  Act,  200 6,  and  the  rules  and  regulations  made thereunder. In cases where samples are found to be non - conformi g to the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, and Rules and regulations made thereunder, penal action has been initiated aga defaulting  FBOs  as  per  the  pr ovisions  of  FSS  Act,  2006,  and  Rules  and  Regulations  made thereunder.

Further , FSSAI  has  strengthened  its  network  of  notified  labs  to  ensure  timely  a accurate testing of  milk samples . At presenthere are 247 primary food testing labs  and  19 Referral Laboratories

FSSAI  provided 39 fully fabricated vehicles (alongwith equipment) Mobile food testi labs  called  Food  Safety  on  Wheels  (FSW)  to  29  States/UTs  till  date.  These  mobile  labs equipped to perform tests, inter - alia ,  for common adultera nts in milk also

Electronic Milk Adulteration Testing Machines ( EMAT ) were   distributed in 2016 - 17 to 29 States/UTs for analysis of milk parameters and to differentiate between genuine and sp milk. NDRI, Karnaland many other institutions have brought out rapid milk testing  kits these  are commercially available.

FSSAI has  come  out  with  a  booklet  called  ' Detect  Adulteration  with  Rapid  Test (DART) ' which  covers more than 50 tests that can be performed easily at household with the help of water and simple solutions like tincture of iodine for food products like Milk Products, Oils & Fats, Sugar & Confectionary, Food grains & its products, Spices & Condim etc.  These  tests also  include  sensory  e valuation  tests  for  establishing  authentication  of  foo products.  DART  depicts  the  differences  between  pure  and  adulterated  food  product  thro pictorial representations.

……………….

## nnexure

| Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   | Annual Public Laboratory Testing Report for Milk for the year 2017-18   |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| State                                                                   | No. of Samples Analyzed                                                 | No. of Samples found Adulterated/ Misbranded                            | No. of Cases Launched                                                   | No. of Cases Launched                                                   | No. of Convictions / Penalties                                          | No. of Convictions / Penalties                                          | No. of Convictions / Penalties                                          |
|                                                                         |                                                                         |                                                                         | Criminal                                                                | Civil                                                                   | Convictions                                                             | Penalties no.                                                           | Penalties amount                                                        |
| A & N Islands                                                           | 76                                                                      | 44                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Andhra Pradesh                                                          | 171                                                                     | 18                                                                      | 03                                                                      | 09                                                                      | 09                                                                      | 07                                                                      | 285000                                                                  |
| Arunachal Pradesh                                                       | 12                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Assam                                                                   | 63                                                                      | 08                                                                      | 0                                                                       | 03                                                                      | 02                                                                      | 02                                                                      | 12,000                                                                  |
| Bihar                                                                   | 125                                                                     | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |                                                                         |                                                                         |
| Chandigarh                                                              | 10                                                                      | 03                                                                      | 0                                                                       | 02                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | 10,000                                                                  |
| Chhattisgarh                                                            | 41                                                                      | 12                                                                      | 0                                                                       | 03                                                                      |                                                                         | 01                                                                      | 15,000                                                                  |
| Dadra & N.H                                                             | 21                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Daman & Diu                                                             | 03                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Goa                                                                     | 119                                                                     | 0                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Gujarat                                                                 | 548                                                                     | 75                                                                      | 02                                                                      | 43                                                                      | 42                                                                      | 42                                                                      | 11,28,500                                                               |
| Haryana                                                                 | 123                                                                     | 21                                                                      | -                                                                       | 25                                                                      | -                                                                       | 31                                                                      | 2,65,500                                                                |
| Himachal Pradesh                                                        | 08                                                                      | 03                                                                      | 01                                                                      | 01                                                                      | 0                                                                       | 02                                                                      | 45,000                                                                  |
| Jammu & Kashmir                                                         | 518                                                                     | 228                                                                     |                                                                         | 220                                                                     | 82                                                                      | 149                                                                     | 8,78,400                                                                |
| Jharkhand                                                               | 07                                                                      | 04                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Kerala                                                                  | 153                                                                     | 15                                                                      |                                                                         | 16                                                                      | 7                                                                       | 8                                                                       | 1,57,000                                                                |
| Maharashtra                                                             | 2,030                                                                   | 311                                                                     | 0                                                                       | 145                                                                     | 20                                                                      | 49                                                                      | 5,60,000                                                                |
| Manipur                                                                 | 102                                                                     | 26                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Meghalaya                                                               | 25                                                                      | -                                                                       | --                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Nagaland                                                                | 24                                                                      | 18                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Odisha                                                                  | 08                                                                      | 03                                                                      |                                                                         |                                                                         | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Puducherry                                                              | 164                                                                     | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Punjab                                                                  | 1420                                                                    | 485                                                                     | 01                                                                      | 175                                                                     | 02                                                                      | 112                                                                     | 6,24,150                                                                |
| Rajasthan                                                               | 559                                                                     | 85                                                                      | 19                                                                      | 25                                                                      | 0                                                                       | 23                                                                      | 38,000                                                                  |
| Tamil Nadu                                                              | 393                                                                     | 101                                                                     | 07                                                                      | 63                                                                      | 64                                                                      | 65                                                                      | 4,19,000                                                                |
| Tripura                                                                 | 08                                                                      | 02                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Uttar Pradesh                                                           | 5,042                                                                   | 2,631                                                                   | 05                                                                      | 2,000                                                                   | 778                                                                     | 1,078                                                                   | 25,965,000                                                              |
| Uttarakhand                                                             | 214                                                                     | 50                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| West Bengal                                                             | 11                                                                      | 07                                                                      | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       | -                                                                       |
| Total                                                                   | 11998                                                                   | 4150                                                                    | 38                                                                      | 2730                                                                    | 1006                                                                    | 1569                                                                    | Rs 30402550                                                             |

A

Source: States/UTs;  Note: Some of the States/UTs have shared consolidated data and not shared the data/complete data  in respect of particular food category like Milk. Therefore, such States/UTs data is not reflected in the report.