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 country;
(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 provisions to provide quality milk to people in the country; and
(e) the results achieved so far in this regard?
ANSWER
THE 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 State/UT 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 Act and Rules, Regulations made thereunder.
(b): As per the information received from State /UT Governments, the number of milk 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 conducted 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, antibiotics, pesticides and aflatoxin M1 covering around 1100 towns across the country. A uniform protocol and precise sampling plan was followed with trained manpower and well equipped laboratory. This survey was intended to help in identification of hotspots and root cause analysis for the same; and also designing and operation of a framework for continuous monitoring of milk quality.
Contd…….
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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 samples for quantitative analysis. The interim report of National Milk Safety and Quality Survey 2018 has been released on 13th 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 Safety 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 from time to time.This regulation specifies minimum fat and solids not fat (snf) content in milk as 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 with the 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, and Skimmed Milk. In addition, quality standards for cow milk have been made uniform throughout 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/veterinary drugs in milk are specified in Food Safety and Standards (Contaminants, toxins and residues) Regulations, 2011.
(iii) Specific hygienic and sanitary practices to be followed by dairy business operators to ensure safety of milk are mentioned in Part III of schedule IV in Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food businesses) Regulations, 2011.
The above-mentioned standards of milk have been framed largely in accordance with the 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 consumers and for keeping a check on the problems of food adulteration in the country, the state food authorities have been advised from time to time to keep a strict vigil by regularly drawing food samples from all sources viz. manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers and to take strict action against the offenders under the provisions of FSS Act, 2006. Implementation and enforcement of FSS Act, 2006 primarily lies with State/UT Governments.
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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 provisions laid down under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, and the rules and regulations made thereunder. In cases where samples are found to be non-conforming to the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, and Rules and regulations made thereunder, penal action has been initiated against the defaulting FBOs as per the provisions of FSS Act, 2006, and Rules and Regulations made thereunder.
Further , FSSAI has strengthened its network of notified labs to ensure timely and accurate testing of milk samples. At present there are 247 primary food testing labs and 19 Referral Laboratories
FSSAI provided 39 fully fabricated vehicles (alongwith equipment) Mobile food testing labs called Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) to 29 States/UTs till date. These mobile labs are equipped to perform tests, inter-alia , for common adulterants 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 spurious milk. NDRI, Karnal and many other institutions have brought out rapid milk testing kits and 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 & Milk Products, Oils & Fats, Sugar & Confectionary, Food grains & its products, Spices & Condiments etc. These tests also include sensory evaluation tests for establishing authentication of food products. DART depicts the differences between pure and adulterated food product through pictorial representations.
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