Milk adulteration: FDA to visit dairy companies across Maharashtra

In order to take a step forward and reduce incidents of milk adulteration, Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) department has decided to visit dairy companies across the state.

Last week, the FDA department inspected 227 tankers to check adulteration in the milk supplied to the city. The inspection was done at five toll nakas - Vashi, Airoli, Dahisar, LBS and Mulund from where the milk tankers enter the city.

During the inspection, the FDA found out that over 19,250 litre of milk was adulterated. 13 samples were given for testing to a laboratory in Navi Mumbai.

Speaking about the surprise investigation, Shailesh Adhav, the FDA Joint Commissioner (Food) in Mumbai region said, "As a further step in this investigation, we have thought of inspecting the dairy companies across the state and milk plants. While we have already started the inspection process of the milk plants and dairy companies, the inspection will happen for the entire week."

Satara's Heritage company, Turbhe's Prabhat Dairy, Pune's Agarwal Milks, Ahmednagar's Sairaj Milks, Nashik's Darana Milk.

"Few of the milk plant inspection has already been done after the adulterated milk was found in the tankers. The samples have been given forward for testing. The reports will be out soon," said Shailesh Adhav.

On October 17, overall nine lakh and 150-liter milk were investigated. The milk samples which are found to be adulterated were adulterated using sucrose, maltodextrin or ammonium sulphate.

CURRENT STATUS

• Last week, inspection drive was carried out at five toll nakas - Vashi, Airoli, Dahisar, LBS and Mulund. These are locations from where the milk tankers enter the city
   
• During the inspection, the FDA found out that over 19,250 litre of milk was adulterated. 13 samples were sent for testing to a laboratory in Navi Mumbai