Maharashtra FDA to introduce end-to-end traceability of milk to fight adulteration
Digitisation initiative to be launched to connect milk to milch animals and to trace anomalies to arrest adulteration process
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to implement an end-to-end traceability system for milk in a bid to combat frequent incidents of milk adulteration in the state. The initiative aims to digitise milking records and link them to milch animals, enabling authorities to monitor real milk output. This project, currently in its early stages, will be fully operational once the project report for digitising milking records is finalized.
The FDA Commissioner, Tukaram Mundhe, explained that the FDA will collaborate with the National Digital Livestock Mission (NDLM) database, which manages livestock data, to trace milk back to the milch animal. The FDA has already taken significant steps against milk adulteration, including banning analogue paneer for a year and reducing the sale of junk food near schools.
The FDA has also conducted numerous raids and increased its testing capacity. However, some establishments have challenged these measures as harsh and not in line with legal provisions. The project faces challenges such as ensuring milk is collected within two hours of milking and addressing the lack of sufficient chilling centres.
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