As milk consumption increases in Kashmir during Ramadhan, quality is sure to elude consumers as 55 percent milk samples tested since January 2015 at Srinagar Food Analysis Lab have been found sub-standard.
The figure is astounding, according to experts, considering the inadequate infrastructure of the lab which constrains its market checking ability.
However, in spite of the rampant practice of adulteration of milk, no punitive action is taken by the authorities except the token fine.
Many Food Safety Officers confided that the higher officials ask them to levy a ‘token fine’ of Rs 500-1000 on the sellers of adulterated milk. “In Ramadhan, people prepare different dishes which increases milk consumption. However, they are just increasing the consumption of harmful chemicals rather than the nutrition in milk,” a senior paediatrician said.
Analysis of samples lifted through routine market checks by the officers of the Drug and Food Control Organisation (DFCO) has revealed the astounding levels of adulterations in milk available for the consumers. Since January 2015, 77 milk samples from across the districts of Kashmir collected by Food Safety Officers were tested at the Food Analysis Laboratory.
On analysis, 42 of these samples were found to have adulterations, according to sources. This number, according to officials of the department, should not be taken as representative of the milk quality in state because of the fact that the laboratory is inept to test for a range of adulterations commonly found in milk.
“We have no facilities to test for synthetic chemicals such as shampoos, pesticides, heavy metals etc.,” an official at the laboratory said.
The officials claimed that harmful adulterants such as detergent are ‘not very common’ addition to the milk in Valley. He admitted that adulteration such as ‘bicarbonates, caustic and flour’ apart from water, are very often detected in milk, both loose and packaged.
However, experts rubbish this claim saying that the level of something that has not been checked for cannot be determined. “How can we say whether detergent is present or not in milk we consume when we have not even tested for it,” a health expert said.
According to documents available with us, there is a huge disparity in the reports of the samples tested in the Srinagar lab and referral lab. Many milk samples given a ‘standard’ certification in the state lab have been found to contain dangerous chemicals that make it unfit for human consumption.
In the past, the Referral Food Testing Laboratory in Kolkata had detected detergents in famous packaged milk brand from Kashmir and had labelled it ‘unsafe’ for consumption. However, post the time when this news created ripples and fear in public, not much has been followed up on filling the gaps in milk testing in Kashmir.
Stakeholders are concerned at the complacency of the SMC and DFCO authorities towards the dangerous adulterants in milk. “If they cannot test for dangerous chemicals in the state, then they ought to send every suspected sample to the referral lab,” an employee of the DFCO said. He warned of a ‘nexus’ that operates with the DFCO doing token tests and giving unscientific reports.
“If that is not the case, then why is neither the testing infrastructure upgraded nor samples sent to a reliable lab as a routine, not as an exception?” he asked.
