Amid reports of shortage, FSSAI to hold surveillance on milk and milk products

Source: The post is based on the article “Amid reports of shortage, FSSAI to hold surveillance on milk and milk products” published in The Hindu on 26th May 2023

What is the News?

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) will conduct nationwide surveillance to curb adulteration of milk and milk products, in both organised and unorganised sectors in all the districts of the States and Union Territories.

What is the need for FSSAI surveillance in the Dairy sector?

India is facing a milk shortage with cooperatives reporting only a 1-2% increase in production this year and organised and unorganised sector pointing to registering stagnation. This is because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) and fodder inflation at 30%.

Further, milk plays an indispensable role in food culture either as a fresh fluid or as processed dairy products.

How FSSAI surveillance in the Dairy sector will operate?

Milk or milk products would be tested for compliance with quality and safety.

The FSSAI operation would identify hotspots for adulteration in milk and its products and devise corrective actions/strategies and suggest a way forward.

How FSSAI surveillance in the Dairy sector operated last year?

“In 2022, the FSSAI conducted a milk survey in selected 12 States (10 States where the lumpy skin disease was prevalent). FSSAI monitored the administration of antibiotics/veterinary drugs in affected animals and sprayed insecticides in the sheds.

Later, the presence of antibiotics, pesticide residues and heavy metals were assessed in the samples collected. The survey revealed that the milk sold in the selected 12 States is largely safe for consumption.