Bhubaneswar: Eight samples of milk and milk products were found to be of sub-standard quality in Odisha during the last year, the State Assembly was informed on Wednesday.
Replying in writing to a query raised by BJP MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik said that a total of 88 samples of milk and milk products available in the market were tested at the State Food Testing Laboratory in Bhubaneswar.
Out of these, eight samples were found to be sub-standard, while the remaining 80 samples conformed to prescribed quality standards. The minister clarified that none of the tested samples was found to be unsafe for consumption.
Mallik informed the House that apart from Omfed, 22 companies are currently engaged in the sale of milk and milk products in the state. Of these, 10 are domestic companies based within Odisha, while 12 companies operate from outside the state.
He further stated that the quality of milk and milk products marketed by all these companies is monitored by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ensure compliance with established norms.
The minister’s statement comes amid ongoing efforts by the state government to strengthen food safety mechanisms and ensure that dairy products available in the market meet required standards.
