Hold random checks on milk, orders HC

A division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad was passing orders on a public interest litigation moved by advocate A.P. Suryaprakasam seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into allegations of some private dairies in the State indulging in large-scale adulteration as claimed by Minister for Milk and Dairy Development K.T. Rajenthra Bhalaji.

The bench on directing the collectors and SPs to hold such random checks also wanted them to furnish the details of their checks to the Food Safety Commissioner for initiation of criminal action against offenders and not let them off with a mere fine by filing a civil case.

The bench in its order also stressed on the need for creating awareness among children and teachers about food adulteration and the effects it could have on their health.

A status report filed by the Director and Additional Commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration submitted that there are as many as 18,329 milk vendors in the State out of which 2,649 have active license while 10,069 have active registration certificate. As on January 31, 2019, there exists a total of 12,718 licenses/registered milk vendors.

Also, in a special drive held during 2018 as many as 788 samples were analysed out of which 657 samples confirmed to the standards while 113 samples were found substandard and 16 samples were found misbranded and two samples were found to be unsafe.

In the check on 366 samples of milk products, 14 samples were found to be unsafe and 145 samples were found to be substandard and misbranded, the status report said.