FSSAI has announced its upcoming nationwide surveillance program, the Pan-India Milk & Milk Products Surveillance 2023, which aims to combat adulteration and maintain consumer confidence.
Rationale for Milk and Milk Products Surveillance: Milk holds immense importance in Indian food culture and is consumed in various forms both as a fresh fluid and as processed dairy products like khoa, chenna, paneer, ghee, butter, curd, and ice cream. Therefore, FSSAI recognizes the need to sustain the mandate of providing safe and wholesome food for human consumption, making milk and milk products a key focus area for surveillance.
Objectives of Pan-India Milk & Milk Products Surveillance:
The primary objectives of the surveillance program are threefold.
Firstly, it aims to assess the compliance of milk and milk products sold in the country with the quality and safety parameters specified in the Food Safety and Standards Regulations (FSSR). This assessment will provide valuable insights into the adherence to safety standards and identify areas of improvement.
Secondly, the surveillance aims to identify hotspots for adulteration in milk and milk products. By pinpointing regions or sectors that exhibit higher risks of adulteration, FSSAI can take targeted actions to curb this malpractice.
Lastly, based on the results of the study, the surveillance program will devise corrective actions and strategies to address any identified issues and suggest a way forward for ensuring the safety and quality of milk and milk products.
Previous Surveillance Efforts by FSSAI:
FSSAI has a commendable track record of conducting surveys and surveillance programs to monitor the safety and quality of various food commodities, including milk and milk products. In the past decade, FSSAI has undertaken several PAN India Surveys on milk, with the most recent ones conducted in 2011 and 2016. These surveys collected a significant number of samples and tested them for critical quality and safety parameters. In addition to milk, FSSAI conducted the National Milk Safety and Quality Survey in 2018, which covered all states and union territories, collecting a vast number of samples from both the organized and unorganized sectors. The survey provided valuable insights into the safety and quality of milk across the country. Furthermore, in 2020, FSSAI conducted the PAN India Milk Products Survey, focusing on the safety and quality of milk-based products and desserts sold in the market during festivals. The survey covered various products, including paneer, khoa, chhena, and their respective desserts. Another noteworthy survey was conducted in 2022, where FSSAI focused on selected 12 states affected by the Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) outbreak. This survey specifically assessed the presence of antibiotics, pesticide residues, and heavy metals in milk samples to ensure consumer safety.
