The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has invented a milk adulteration kit, which would be affordable (so people can use it). Talks are underway with investors to produce it in bulk.

Milk adulteration

The apex food regulator stated that a detailed and focused strategy was needed to challenge the present situation regarding adulteration. It is also considering conducting more surveys to gauge the severity of the situation.

Ashish Bahuguna, chairman, FSSAI, said, “A survey, conducted three months ago, showed that milk adulteration was more rampant in North India vis-a-vis the southern states.”

He was speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Central Consumer Protection Council (CCPC) in New Delhi.

Talking about the survey, Bahuguna said, “The sample size is 2,500, and there is a need to conduct more such surveys to get an accurate and complete picture of the situation.”

He also stated that the apex food regulator is currently talking to possible investors for the bulk production and marketing of the kit.

Recently, FSSAI also released a Pink Book for households, in whichmethods were described in great detail to test pulses, milk edible oil, etc. for adulteration.

It is learnt that the issue of adulteration was discussed at the CCPC meeting,during which the consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister Ram Vilas Paswanurged the apex food regulator to come up with an accurate testing kit priced between Rs15 and Rs 20.