Milk is a staple in India. Indians consume it with our morning tea or coffee, and use it to make paneer and curd.
Which is why so many were concerned when packaged milk became the centre of a row over food safety, leading many to wonder how safe the milk we consume really is.
India’s biggest brands, Amul, Mother Dairy, and Country Delight, are under the scanner after Trustified, an independent testing platform, released a video claiming that milk samples from these brands failed to meet quality and safety parameters.
According to Trustified, testing of milk samples from the above brands was conducted to assess Total Plate Count (TPC) and coliform, a type of bacteria. Trustified claimed that some milk pouches had coliform levels up to 98 times higher than the limits prescribed by
the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
But what is coliform? Why is it so harmful? What are the brands saying?
Let’s take a closer look:
What is Coliform bacteria?
Coliform bacteria comprise a group of bacteria commonly present in soil, water, plants, and the intestines of animals and humans.
They are rod-shaped, Gram-negative, non-spore-forming bacteria that may be either motile (can move on their own) or non-motile (cannot move on their own), according to ScienceDirect. These bacteria ferment sugars, producing acid and gas when incubated at 35°C to 37°C.
Coliform typically do not cause serious illness. However, high levels can result in symptoms such as fever, gastroenteritis, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and headaches.
Consuming coliform in large quantities can pose risks to individuals with weakened immune systems, particularly young children and the elderly.
According to many experts, detecting coliform bacteria does not necessarily indicate human contamination. In India, it is often associated with cow dung during hand milking, especially in settings where hygiene practices are inadequate. Therefore, milk is traditionally advised to be boiled before consumption.
If the cold chain (a temperature-controlled supply chain) is broken during transportation, at retail stores, or at home, any remaining bacteria can multiply rapidly. Therefore, pasteurised milk should not be consumed without boiling it first.
Why are dairy giants under the scanner?
At the heart of the online storm is a viral video by Trustified.
The platform claims to have detected Coliform in Amul Taaza and Amul Gold way above the FSSAI-mandated safe limit for pouch milk, which is around 10 Colony Forming Units per millilitre (CFU/ml). Trustified claims to have detected coliforms at
980 CFU/ml in Amul Taaza and 25 CFU/ml in Amul Gold.
Meanwhile, Trustified claimed that Mother Dairy cow milk recorded a Total Plate Count (TPC) of 2,40,000 CFU/ml, which is nearly eight times higher than the prescribed limit (FSSAI) of 30,000 CFU/ml.
In Country Delight, which is marketed as “fresh milk straight from the farmlands to your homes”, TPC was recorded at 60,000 CFU/ml, double the prescribed safety limit of 30,000 CFU/ml, the news outlet reported.
Some brands of curd have also come under scrutiny.
In January, the same platform tested
Amul Dahi, particularly its Masti Dahi variant. It claimed to have found coliform bacteria levels 2,100 times above the permissible limit, along with yeast and mould levels 60 times higher than the permissible limit.
It said tetra pack milk and dahi sold in cups passed quality checks.
Amul has dismissed these reports as fear-mongering. It has maintained that its products meet all safety standards. The company pointed to possible disruptions in the cold chain at the retail or distribution level, rather than any lapse in the manufacturing process.
Authorities crack down on illegal dairy units
According to a CNBC-TV18 report, over the past month, police and food safety authorities in parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have cracked down on illegal dairy units allegedly involved in producing adulterated milk.
In a recent raid in Gujarat, officials said that 300 litres of pure milk were diluted with water, milk powder, caustic soda, oil, detergent, and urea to manufacture nearly 1,800 litres of adulterated milk daily, the report noted.
The magnitude of the illegal dairy units has forced the regulator to step in. The FSSAI has directed a nationwide crackdown to curb the adulteration and mislabelling of dairy products.
In response to questions in Parliament, the government stated that food safety authorities conduct targeted enforcement campaigns across states. These efforts are backed by 246 accredited food testing laboratories, 24 referral laboratories, and more than 300 mobile “Food Safety on Wheels” units, according to the media outlet.
What do experts say?
Dr Sharad Malhotra, Senior Consultant and Director of Gastroenterology at Aakash Healthcare, advised people to refrain from consuming pouch milk unless it is boiled.
Malhotra told Moneycontrol, “Consuming contaminated milk without boiling can lead to the development of gastrointestinal symptoms, such as abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, bloating, or even food poisoning.”
He added, “Susceptibility is stronger in children, elderly persons, pregnant women, and people with low immunity. So, continuous exposure to contaminated food can also affect gut health.”
“The regulatory authorities may need to review hygiene audits along the entire supply chain, that is, from farm to retail shelf.” The doctor further noted that, even if the bacteria present in the milk are not immediately harmful, milk will have a shorter shelf life under such conditions.
“A large number of bacteria present in the milk is an indication that the storage conditions during transportation, storage, and even on the shelves require an overhaul. Regular testing and refrigeration at all stages, from production to delivery at the doorstep, is a must to adhere to the safety parameters,” Malhotra added.
With inputs from agencies