Is the milk you are drinking safe? This FSSAI survey spots recent adulteration figures

After the imposition of strict food safety rules and regulations by the government, milk in India in India is largely safe to drink, said an interim report released by the FSSAI.

The recent interim survey tested for 13 adulterants including vegetable oil, detergents, glucose, urea and ammonium sulphate. (Image: AFP)

New Delhi: After the imposition of strict food safety rules and regulations by the government, milk in India in India is largely safe to drink, said an interim report released by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) said Tuesday. The food safety regulator has stated that almost 90 per cent of the overall milk being sold and consumed is safe to drink and the remaining 10 per cent is contaminated due to poor farm practices. The report of the National Milk Quality Survey, 2018, FSSAI said is by far the largest systematic study of milk, both in terms of sample size (6,432 samples) and a number of parameters. While releasing the interim survey, Pawan Agarwal, CEO, FSSAI said, “The study found that little less than 10 per cent samples (638) had contaminants (mainly from poor farm practices and quality of feed) that make milk unsafe for consumption, while over 90 per cent of samples were found safe.” "Milk in India is largely free from adulterants which render it unsafe for consumption. Merely 12 out of total 6,432 samples had adulterants that affect the safety of milk," Agarwal said further. The occurrence of such adulterants is statistically insignificant considering the sample size in the survey, he added. The survey report came days after concerns were raised by a senior Animal Welfare Board member who alleged that nearly 70 per cent of total milk produced in the country is not as per FSSAI standard. However, Agarwal had then sought to dismiss the claims calling it incorrect. The recent interim survey tested for 13 adulterants including vegetable oil, detergents, glucose, urea and ammonium sulphate. Milk samples were also tested to check level of contaminants like antibiotic residue, pesticide residue and aflatoxin M1. Agarwal also stressed on the fact that there is ‘no concern’ at all due pesticides residues. Only 1.2 per cent of the samples failed on account of antibiotics residues above tolerance level and it was mainly due to oxy-tetracycline used to treat animals with bovine mastitis. Non-compliance on quality parameters in processed milk is quite large, even though it is lower than raw milk. This is a matter of concern and needs to be addressed through various measures," Agarwal said. Earlier in 2011, FSSAI had conducted a quick survey of adulteration of milk through its regional offices. Another milk survey was attempted in 2016 through state food authorities.