Adulterated Milk Menace in Maharashtra: FDA's Crackdown

Maharashtra's FDA uncovered sodium chloride, sugar, and low fat in milk samples during a recent inspection, with 109 out of 1,084 samples revealing contamination. Minister Narhari Zirwal emphasized the need for stricter laws against food adulteration amid resource constraints in the department.

Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has uncovered troubling levels of food adulteration after conducting random milk tests across the state. The investigation revealed the presence of sodium chloride, sugar, and lower-than-declared fat content in several samples.

Addressing the press on Thursday, Minister Narhari Zirwal announced that FDA officers collected 1,084 milk samples from 162 companies on January 15. Alarmingly, 109 samples showed sodium chloride levels, 14 contained sodium, one had sugar, and another lacked the prescribed fat levels.

During a late-night operation on February 12 and 13, 98 milk tankers were inspected at Mumbai's toll nakas. One tanker was turned back due to non-compliance with standards. Zirwal stressed the urgent need for stricter laws against food adulteration and recognized the department's manpower shortages.