Nagaland’s food safety standard raises concerns

Results of the samples tested, from left - nitrate, maltose, detergent, sugar and urea. The test to determine the presence of nitrate returned negative. (RIGHT) The chart illustrates how the texture and colour of milk test samples would shift if it is adulterated.

First fresh milk from the unorganised sector, now packaged and pasteurised toned milk from the organised sector has come under scrutiny. If concentration of water overwhelming the presence of basic nutrients in fresh milk was not shocking enough, presence of chemical traces in supposedly hygienically processed toned milk will certainly put a question mark on the food safety standard followed in this part of the world.  

In the backdrop of the district food safety authority making public its finding on milk vendors indulging in adulteration of one of nature’s, arguably, most wholesome foods, a Dimapur based veterinary practitioner made a shocking disclosure stating that toned milk, processed, packaged and marketed by Nagaland’s premier milk processing unit, is not safe enough for human consumption.

Dr. Michael, who runs a veterinary clinic in Dimapur, said the discovery was made after a consumer approached him to test the quality of toned milk marketed by DIMUL. The veterinary practitioner has a certified milk adulteration test kit, also known as Adulteration Testing of Milk or ATM.

He said the tests were carried out to satisfy the consumer’s curiosity. Surprisingly, adulterants were detected. Considering the gravity of the finding and with public health in mind, the vet was compelled to go public with the finding, all too familiar with the legal ramification that may or may not follow; but not before carrying out further tests, conducted on three different days.  

On March 17, Dr. Michael physically demonstrated to media persons the test procedure using samples from a packet of toned milk marketed by DIMUL on the day. The packaging date on the packet was ‘17 March 2013’. The shelf life of DIMUL pasteurised toned milk is two days from date of packaging.

Five different samples were taken from the same packet to test the presence of urea, sugar, detergent, maltose, neutralisers, and Nitrate or pond water. Save one, all samples tested positive, indicating the presence of adulterants. Presence of urea, sugar, detergent, maltose and slight traces of neutralizers were detected in each of the tested samples.

To cite an example, a sample tested to determine the presence of nitrate will turn pinkish red if it is adulterated with nitrate or pond water. In this case, it did not occur.
This was followed up with another round of tests on March 19, this time in the presence of the Dimapur district Food Safety Officer (FSO). Samples were taken from a packet of DIMUL toned milk marketed on the day. Aforementioned adulterants were detected as in tests conducted over the past few days. Further, sodium chloride, also known as common salt, was detected.

Sample tests were also conducted on tetra-packed toned milked marketed by reputed companies and on fresh milk procured from a local vendor. Detergent and maltose were detected in the samples taken from two different brands of tetra-packed toned milk.

The tests however could not determine at what level or percentage the adulterants were present. The Minimum Detection Limit or MDL for urea is 0.5 percent, detergent 0.2 percent, sugar 0.5 percent, maltose 0.2 percent, neutralizers 0.05 percent and pond water 20 ppm (parts per million).  

Research states that over 70 percent of milk in the country does not conform to the standards set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The National Survey on Milk Adulteration 2011 found that due to lack of hygiene and sanitation in milk handling and packaging, detergents used during cleaning find their way into the milk. Other contaminants like urea, salt, sugar, starch and even formalin are used to increase the thickness and viscosity of milk and as preservative.
The Indian Council of Medical Research reports that adulterants in milk can have hazardous impact on health in the long term. 

Interactive workshop

An interactive workshop on ‘Harmonisation of India’s food standards with CODEX standards and other international best practices’ organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in association the Confederation of Indian Food Trade and Industry (CIFTI), The Food Safety and Standards Authority(FSSA) of India and The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), was held on Monday.

The workshop was aimed at creating awareness on the concept of harmonization and to encourage industry experts to volunteer working with FSSAI in drafting national food safety standards.

More than 80 delegates representing various industry segments including Seafood Exporters Association, Spices  Board, Export Inspection Agency,

Food Safety Authority assistant director  Karthikeyan and  CIFTI- FICCI regulatory head Padmaparna Dasgupta  led discussions. They emphasised the participation of all stakeholders in making the standards for various items and requested voluntary nominations to the working group being set up by FSSAI.