Jaipur: Amid rising concerns over food adulteration and misleading food claims, Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) has told Rajasthan High Court that nearly 80% of the state’s marketable milk is handled by the unorganised sector.Additional advocate general Mahi Yadav filed RCDF’s affidavit before a division bench of Acting Chief Justice Sanjiv Prakash Sharma and Justice Pramil Kumar Mathur Tuesday. The bench is hearing a suo motu matter on food adulteration in the state.The court also took on record material submitted earlier on Aug 7, including an application placing reports and other material concerning food adulteration and misleading food claims before it.In its affidavit, RCDF said Rajasthan produces around 36–37 million tonnes of milk annually, equivalent to nearly 1,000 lakh litre a day. “Of this, around 500 lakh litre is consumed at household level, leaving approximately 500 lakh litre a day as marketable surplus. Out of this surplus, nearly 400 lakh litre is handled by the unorganised sector, including local vendors, loose milk sellers, small private dairies and neighbourhood distribution networks. In comparison, the organised sector markets around 100 lakh litre a day, with RCDF itself collecting and processing approximately 40–45 lakh litre daily,” the affidavit said.RCDF stressed that it operates within the organised dairy sector and does not control Rajasthan’s entire milk market.Advocate general Rajendra Prasad sought more time to file a separate affidavit on behalf of the department of animal husbandry, which the court granted.
