Major drive against adulteration of milk and milk products

New Delhi, Apr 26 (UNI) Delhi government today kick started a special drive across the city to combat adulteration of milk and milk products this summer season.

Delhi Health Minister Yoganand Shastri constituted eight teams, headed by Sub Divisional Magistrates, that raided shops in the capital and collected milk and milk products samples.

The teams conducted the operation at more than 24 places including Ramesh Nagar, Patel Nagar, Ranjit Nagar, Subhash Nagar, Shastri Nagar, Vikas Puri, Subzi Mandi, Rohini, Karol Bagh, Nehru Nagar, Baljeet Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Shahdara, Fateh Puri and Kotwali areas where milk and milk product are traded in bulk.

Raids were also being conducted at many other places.

The minister himself was present when raids were conducted near Hanuman Mandir in Connaught Place, opposite Old Delhi Railway Station and Khari Baoli in Chandni Chowk area.

Taken by surprise by the operation many shopkeepers pulled down shutters and ran away.

Dr Shastri directed the Public Analyst to analyse samples on priority basis and submit a report to the state government within 48 hours.

In cases where any evidence of adulteration/mis-branding was found strict action as per law under provisions of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Act 1954 would be taken, he added.

The minister said similar operations would be conducted periodically in different areas to exert pressure on adultrators and black marketers.

He, however, also had a word for 'genuine' traders, saying that the Directorate of PFA had established a policy of collecting samples routinely and wherever samples were found conforming to standards, it issued appropriate certificate to such traders as well.

Earlier, examination of polypack milk samples collected randomly from across the city has found the quality of about 25 per cent units wanting, albeit only in their 'fat content'.

The samples, belonging to lesser known to more known companies, were found 'impure' as their fat content was less by three to nine per cent.

As many as four of the 16 impure samples belonged to Gopaljee, three each to Mother Dairy and Paras, two to Parag and one each to Delhi Milk Scheme, Amul, Amul Gold and Param.

Action was also taken against guilty vendors and companies of which milk samples were found impure, according to the impurity tested and its extent.

The government was also taking steps to ensure that there were no allegations on the composition of the sample lifting team and the process adopted by them to lift milk samples.

Meanwhile, out of the nearly 12 lakh litres of milk required by the capital daily a huge quantity of it came from adjoining states, quality of which was difficult to monitor.

Another sample survey earlier had found milk and milk products the most adulterated food items.

As many as 30 per cent of milk samples (226 out of 748) were found adulterated while 107 milk product samples out of 1,070 were found adulterated.

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