Substandard milk samples found in Odisha, Minister informs in Assembly; consumers voice concern

Substandard milk samples were detected in Odisha following laboratory tests conducted last year, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik informed the State Legislative Assembly. 

The disclosure triggered concern among consumers over the quality of milk available in the market.

Samples Found Substandard

According to the Minister, milk samples from 88 private companies were tested last year, of which eight were found to be substandard.

At present, apart from OMFED, 22 companies are engaged in the dairy business in Odisha. Of these, 10 are Odisha-based companies, while 12 operate from outside the state, the Minister stated.

Following the disclosure, apprehensions have grown among consumers regarding milk safety. The state government has said that the process of identifying fake milk will continue.

Public Reaction In Balasore

A resident of Balasore alleged, “Recently a local milkman told us that before they start milking the cows, they inject them with something 30 minutes earlier, which results in more milk. Consuming that is like consuming poison. Milk is an everyday necessity; we use it for puja and people of all age groups consume it in various forms. It is unacceptable that adulterated milk is being sold.”

Another local said, “We cannot know unless we hear about it in the news. It is the government’s job to conduct regular tests and take action against those responsible. The names of these companies should be released so that people can avoid them.”

Experts Call For Stronger Enforcement

An expert remarked, “The Food Adulteration Act should be implemented properly. It is not enough to condemn the act; action must be taken to stop adulteration. The government should provide adequate manpower, machinery, distribution vehicles and quality-check machines.”

He added, “The number of officials responsible for checking food quality is very limited. The frequency and standard of checks are not sufficient.”

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Another expert, Pradeep Behera, said, “Companies test the milk before collecting it from farmers and reject it if there are quality issues. Adulteration happens at the company level, not by farmers.”