Meeting over adulteration of milk today

MUMBAI, May 20: Representatives of the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the state Dairy Development Department, the National Chemical Laboratory and other agencies are to meet on Wednesday amid growing concerns about widespread adulteration of milk in the city.

A K Lakhina, commissioner, FDA, said, "We have conducted many raids in recent days but that’s only short-term action. Now we are planning some institutional solution that can effectively deal with the problem." The state government has decided to crack down on the practice of treating milk with a number of dangerous additives before it is delivered to the dairy cooperative. Caustic soda, detergents and urea are some of the substances that are used to preserve milk for longer periods or to produce it artificially. These are found to cause cancer and a gradual impairment of the body, among other diseases.