Home / Health / Statewide Milk Safety Drive Underway Post-Deaths
Statewide Milk Safety Drive Underway Post-Deaths
25 Feb
Summary
- Statewide drive initiated following four deaths from adulterated milk.
- Vendors selling unpackaged milk are the primary focus of inspections.
- Over 500 milk samples targeted for analysis during the three-day drive.
A comprehensive statewide drive to detect urea and starch adulteration in milk and dairy products commenced on Wednesday in Andhra Pradesh. This initiative was prompted by the deaths of four elderly persons in Rajahmundry, who succumbed to acute renal failure after consuming adulterated milk. The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) is spearheading the effort, with inspections targeting milk vendors, storage operators, and wholesale dealers.
IPM Director Neelakantha Reddy stated that the drive focuses particularly on vendors of unpackaged milk. To ensure accurate results, samples are being collected using special kits for spot analysis. As Andhra Pradesh lacks a National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited facility, collected samples are dispatched to labs in Hyderabad and Kakinada for official testing.
The three-day drive has set a target of collecting 500 milk samples. On the first day, approximately 150 samples were collected and sent to labs in Chennai, Kakinada, and Hyderabad. In separate incidents across the state, quality issues led to the disposal of nearly 100 litres of milk in Anantapur, and the seizure of 5kg of substandard milk powder in Kakinada. Officials confirmed that legal action will be pursued against those found guilty of adulteration.
