Key Update

Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is set to deploy portable milk scanners statewide to combat adulteration and ensure the supply of safe, high-quality milk. The agency will receive 50 handheld devices by August 2025, enabling instant on-site milk testing. Currently, FDA officials collect samples and send them to laboratories, causing delays and risking spoilage. These scanners will eliminate such risks and allow authorities to take immediate action to protect public health.

The scanners test 16 parameters, including fat content, solids-not-fat (SNF), protein, and density. They also detect adulterants such as urea, starch, glucose, neutralisers, sodium chloride, detergent, and ammonium sulfate.

FDA Targets High-Risk Entry Points

Officials will use the scanners at checkpoints along city borders to inspect milk-carrying vehicles, focusing on areas with a history of adulteration. They plan to station the devices at locations where suspicious consignments have been previously intercepted.

Milkoscan Machines to Boost Lab Testing

In addition to portable scanners, the FDA is acquiring two advanced Milkoscan machines for its laboratory. These use Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to quickly and accurately analyse dairy products, including milk, cream, and plant-based alternatives, for fat, protein, lactose, and total solids. This upgrade will enhance the agency’s capacity for precise and consistent testing.

Source: Free Press Journal