In view of serious health hazard posed by contaminated milk, the health department of SMC sprung into action.
A day after reports that cow milk containing urea and other harmful substances was being supplied in Surat, the Surat Municipal Corporation officials sprung into action and collected samples of various milk brands entering the city.
On Monday, the Dakshin Gujarat Grahak Suraksha Samiti made representation to the district collector and the municipal commissioner claiming that milk containing urea and baking soda was being supplied and sold in the city.
The claim was made on the basis of laboratory tests of cow milk packets of Rajhans, Satral, Gokulam and Nizneshwar brands between July 4 and 23. The laboratory tests revealed presence of sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), urea, and even salt in some of the milk samples.
In view of serious health hazard posed by contaminated milk, the health department of SMC sprung into action and formed teams to collect samples of milk entering the city.
Officials said that samples of Gokulam, Devakinandan, Rajhans and Ranjan brands were collected by the civic teams after midnight on Tuesday.
The samples were carefully packed in sealed bottles and sent for testing. According to officials, Devakinandan, Rajhans and Ranjan brands are produced in Maharashtra, while Gokulam brand is produced in Sachin.
“We have sent the milk samples for laboratory test to ascertain whether they contain any harmful materials or are sub-standard. Reports of the tests will be available after 40 days,” Hemant Desai, in-charge deputy commissioner (health & hospital), said.
Earlier, Dakshin Gujarat Grahak Suraksha Samiti had alleged that the tested milk samples did not conform to standards set under the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act (PFA). Quoting lab reports, the samiti said that the amount of non-fat solids in nine of the tested 15 samples was less than 8.50% while fat content was lower than the prescribed limit of 3.5%.
“The milk is as good as adulterated under the legal definition. In fact, it is not milk that ia being sold, but a milk-like substance,” DC Bhatt, president of the Samiti, had said.
The samiti had alleged that adulterated milk is being sold across the city, more so in areas dominated by migrants, which pose serious health hazard. It had also blamed official apathy for the menace.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}