People residing in four northern states Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and Chadigarh are fond of milk and milk products, where adulteration in such products has been observed. According to Health & Family Welfare Ministry report, during year 2023-24 a total number of 11,454 sampled of milk and milk products collected in above states 3107 samples which include 1653 cases in Punjab, 935 cases in Haryana, 351 cases in Himachal and 165 cases in Chandigarh were found adulterated witnessing increase of 733 cases in Punjab and 524 cases in Haryana as compared to the previous year. Information revealed that under Food Security Quality Rule 2006, as many as 2866 cases were also registered against firms allegedly involved in wrong branding of food products.
According to a doctor of Gastro-antrology Department of PGIMS Chandigarh, use of adulterated milk and its products is very harmful for the health causing medical disorders like kidney and liver problems, apart from the infections including the food poisoning, stomach pain, diarrhoea, intestine infection and typhoid. According to the report, out of 6041 samples of food products collected in Punjab during the year 2023-24, adulteration was not found in 929 samples, whereas civil cases were registered in 1577 and criminal cases in 76 cases.
Similarly, in Haryana out of a total number of 3485 collected samples, 856 samples were found correct, whereas 818 civil and 117 criminal cases were registered against the adulterators. In Himachal, out of a total number of 1617 samples as many as 396 samples were found correct, whereas 346 civil and 8 criminal cases were registered against the samples found adulterated. In the 311 samples collected from Chandigarh, 128 civil and 31 criminal cases were registered against the adulterators.
