Food and Health E-ssentials

INDIA RELEASES PLAN FOR SAFE MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has published an action plan to address the safety and quality of milk and milk products marketed or sold in India.

According to a press release issued by the FSSAI in late November, the 12-point action plan covers three primary areas, specifically:

1. Testing and continued surveillance
2. Preventative and corrective action for implementation and monitoring
3. Consumer engagement

In the area of testing, the FSSAI says it has already provided state laboratories with advanced testing equipment. The FSSAI has also notified private and other public food laboratories holding accreditation from India’s National Accreditation Board for Testing (NABL) to conduct regulatory and surveillance testing of milk and milk products to complement efforts by state laboratories.  

A recent national milk safety and quality survey report found that 7% of milk samples evaluated had contaminants or adulterants that made the milk unsafe to drink. A subsequent survey by the FSSAI has also identified quality and hygiene concerns, such as the adulteration with vegetable fats.

The text of the press release released by the FSSAI on its action plan for safe milk and milk products is available here.