Key Development

Milk production may appear routine, but a recent investigation in Gujarat has exposed a dangerous reality behind adulterated dairy products. Officials uncovered a factory that had allegedly produced synthetic milk for nearly five years using chemicals instead of pure dairy. On February 8, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) confirmed that enforcement teams raided a dairy unit in Sabarkantha district following specific intelligence inputs. Authorities suspected the unit of supplying adulterated milk to nearby towns and villages.

Chemicals Used to Imitate Real Milk

During the raid, officials found that the unit mixed small quantities of real milk with a range of industrial substances to mimic the appearance, thickness, and protein content of genuine milk. According to investigators, workers used:

• Detergent powder
• Urea fertiliser
• Caustic soda
• Refined palm oil and refined soybean oil
• Whey powder, skimmed milk powder, and premium SMP powder

Officials revealed that the factory used just 300 litres of real milk to manufacture nearly 1,700–1,800 litres of synthetic milk every day. The adulterated product was packed in pouches and sold as milk and buttermilk across Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts.

Major Seizure During Joint Raid

The Local Crime Branch, along with food safety officials, conducted the raid at Shree Satya Dairy Products near Salal village in Prantij. Inside the facility, authorities seized:

• 1,962 litres of adulterated milk
• Over 1,100 litres of adulterated buttermilk
• Raw materials and chemicals worth nearly ₹71 lakh

Officials sealed the unit immediately and sent samples for laboratory testing to assess the level of contamination.

Unsafe Milk Destroyed, Probe Ongoing

As shown in visuals shared by FSSAI on X, enforcement teams destroyed 1,370 litres of unsafe milk on the spot. Authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the supply chain to identify where and how long the adulterated products entered the market. Food safety officials urged consumers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious dairy products, stressing that synthetic milk poses serious health risks when consumed over time.

Source: NDTV