Mumbai: The state Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has passed a strict new compliance order across the entire dairy supply chain to curb adulteration, mandating immediate farm-to-plate surveillance, strict adherence to milk-fat and solids-not-fat standards, and a non-negotiable cold chain maintained at or below 4°C.Violators can face heavy fines of up to Rs 10 lakh or imprisonment.The order is applicable to milk distribution and all sellers of dairy derivatives, including paneer, condensed milk, milk powder, and ice cream.Making a distinction between ice cream and frozen desserts, the FDA said ice cream must be prepared only from milk or milk derivatives and contain no vegetable fat. “Products using vegetable fat or oil must be labelled prominently as ‘frozen dessert’ or ‘frozen confection’,” the order states, adding that declaration of the percentage of milk fat, vegetable oil, and vegetable fat must be made.FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe told reporters that many milk businesses were found operating without a valid licence or registration over the past month. He said milk was also found to be adulterated using water, urea, detergent, caustic soda, starch, glucose, maltodextrin, neutralisers, hydrogen peroxide, formalin, melamine, and other substances. He said there was also presence of antibiotic residues, aflatoxin M1, and other contaminants exceeding the legally prescribed limits. —Eshan Kalyanikar
