From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: It is a known fact that Meghalaya faces perennial shortage of milk. But now official reports have confirmed a worse fear — there is rampant adulteration in this vital drink in the State.
In its first-ever national survey on milk adulteration, the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) found that of the total 1,791 samples tested throughout the country including Meghalaya, at least over 68 per cent i.e. 1,226 samples were either diluted with water or mixed with harmful detergent.
Adulteration was widely prevalent — in both rural as well as urban areas — in packed and loose milk, samples of which were tested in Government-run laboratories.
The survey found that in Meghalaya and Manipur 96 per cent samples were not conforming to the standard, followed by Tripura (92 per cent), Gujarat and Sikkim (89 per cent), Uttrakhand and Uttar Pradesh (88 per cent), Nagaland (86 per cent) and Jammu & Kashmir (83 per cent).
The worst situation was found in states/UTs like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Daman and Diu, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and Mizoram where all the samples were found to be contaminated or not conforming to the standards, the report said.
Goa and Puducherry were the only states/UTs where all the samples picked up for testing conformed to the given standards.
The deviations were found highest for presence of fat and SNF (Solid Not Fat) in 574 samples (46.8 per cent) of the total non conformity. Skim Milk Powder (SMP) was found in 548 samples (44.69 per cent) which included presence of glucose in 477 samples.
The snapshot survey was conducted with an aim to identify the common adulterants in milk in rural and urban areas in different states besides finding out the non-conforming samples in loose and packed milk throughout the country, the report said.
Things like salt and glucose are added to alter the thickness and viscosity of milk.
Adding starch prevents curdling of milk. Salt and detergents are added to adjust the lactometer reading and to provide thickness to milk.
“Contaminated water and detergent pose health risk indicating lack of hygiene and sanitation in the milk handling. Immediate effect of drinking milk adulterated with urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis,” the report added.
Another reason for worry in Meghalaya is the inadequate supply of milk in Meghalaya which has been attributed to a strange reason — deterioration of the genetic stock of the source animals — cows.
On top of it, the Meghalaya Government cannot arrange for fresh stock from abroad especially from the US and European countries because of an ongoing ban on import of the stock.
The State at present produces 80,000 tonnes of milk which is expected to increase only by 2,000 tonnes every year.
It may be reminded that two ‘progressive dairy farmers’ from Meghalaya had recently received awards from the Centre for their contributions in milk production in the State.