Milk and dairy products are dietary staples across India—but they are also among the most commonly adulterated food items. A 2011 FSSAI national snapshot revealed that 70% of milk samples failed to meet safety standards, indicating widespread adulteration with water, detergents, urea, starch, and other harmful substances. More recent surveillance remains alarming: in Rajasthan, 97% of milk samples were found adulterated, with water making up 50–75% of the volume. In Punjab, 15% of milk and 30% of milk product samples failed food safety tests between April 2023 and February 2024; some samples even contained 'foreign fats' like vegetable or animal fat instead of natural milk fat.

In Ludhiana (Punjab), 48 out of 158 milk and dairy product samples collected from January to June 2025 failed quality tests. This includes 28 of 76 paneer samples, 7 of 11 curd samples, and 8 of 34 milk samples. These figures spotlight how pervasive the issue remains across regions and dairy forms.

Noteworthy Recent Incidents:
- Gujarat: In August 2025, authorities seized over 12 tonnes of adulterated ghee worth ₹81 lakh, with operations uncovering the use of palm oil, vanaspati, and vegetable fats to mimic ghee. Just days later, another raid in Banaskantha district uncovered 5.5 tonnes of adulterated ghee valued at ₹35 lakh—packed in unlabeled tins and branded tins.
- Maharashtra: The FDA disposed of 30,400 litres of milk contaminated with salt (added to deceive quality parameters) during a routine check.
- Punjab: A recent state-wide crackdown resulted in the destruction of over 5,000 kg of paneer and 4,000 kg of milk deemed unsafe, reinforcing the seriousness of enforcement measures.

Health Risks:
- Short-term: Gastrointestinal distress, food poisoning, nausea
- Long-term: Organ damage, developmental issues in children, hormonal imbalances, and potentially cancer.

Underlying Causes:
- Unorganized dairy chains: Loose, unbranded products dominate, often lacking traceability and quality control.
- Profit motivations: Adding water or cheaper fats thickens volume but reduces costs.
- Oversight gaps: Regulatory agencies struggle to monitor every small-scale vendor.
- Consumer unawareness: Without easy testing options, people remain vulnerable.

Enforcement & Detection Advancements:
- Mobile Testing Units: Maharashtra’s FDA and Punjab’s 'Food Safety on Wheels' initiative have screened thousands of samples on the spot.
- Crackdown Campaigns: Frequent raids and sample-testing initiatives—with resulting seizures and destruction of adulterated goods—are becoming more widespread.
- Legal Action: Failed samples can lead to hefty fines, criminal cases, and license cancellations—a potent deterrent when backed by field enforcement.

Combating the Adulteration Menace: What Needs to Be Done:
1. Scale up mobile testing vans across states for on-the-spot detection.
2. Boost consumer awareness through home-tests and public access to testing kits.
3. Support organized dairy cooperatives with stronger traceability and quality.
4. Strengthen regulatory enforcement, particularly among unbranded producers.
5. Penalize offenders sternly to discourage repeat violations.
6. Encourage transparency and public participation in food safety campaigns.

With consistent vigilance, technological tools, and consumer awareness, India can curb the adulteration of its beloved dairy staples and safeguard public health.

References

Times of India. (2025). FDCA crackdown: 12 tonnes of adulterated ghee worth Rs 81 lakh seized in Gujarat. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/fdca-crackdown-12-tonnes-of-adulterated-ghee-worth-rs-81-lakh-seized-in-gujarat/articleshow/123621079.cms

Times of India. (2025). 5.5 tonnes of adulterated ghee seized. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/5-5-tonnes-of-adulterated-ghee-seized/articleshow/123739201.cms

Times of India. (2025). Punjab launches major crackdown on food adulteration: Over 5,000 kg paneer, 4,000 kg milk destroyed. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/punjab-launches-major-crackdown-on-food-adulteration-over-5000-kg-paneer-4000-kg-milk-destroyed-legal-action-seizures-follow/articleshow/123145941.cms

Times of India. (2025). Sangli FDA disposes of 30,000 litres of adulterated milk. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/sangli-fda-disposes-of-30000-litres-of-adulterated-milk/articleshow/120942804.cms

Indian Express. (2024). Punjab: Unsafe for consumption, milk and milk products fail quality tests. Retrieved from https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/punjab-unsafe-for-consumption-milk-9254319/

Times of India. (2025). Dairy diaries: Milk, paneer worst hit by adulteration says dept. Retrieved from https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ludhiana/dairy-diaries-milk-paneer-worst-hit-by-adulteration-says-dept/articleshow/123028368.cms