The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has asked states and union territories to keep mobile testing vans on standby to check the quality of milk and milk products, considering the higher demand during the Holi festival. FSSAI has “directed states and UTs to deploy Food Safety on Wheels (FSW) mobile food testing vans to check for adulteration of milk and milk products, considering the ensuing festive season of Holi.
The authority has requested that the Commissioner of Food Safety of all states and UTs carry out testing of at least 10 samples of milk and milk products per FSW on a daily basis to tighten vigilance against milk adulteration.
FSSAI has also urged consumers to get their milk and milk products tested through the FSWs deployed closest to them. The test can be carried out free of charge.
FSSAI said the whole exercise is targeted at ensuring the availability of safe and pure milk and milk products to the consumers of the country.
Currently, 168 FSWs are available with states and UTs for carrying out on-the-spot food testing for various food products, including milk and milk products. Tests for fats, solid-not-fat, protein, and adulterants like added water, urea, sucrose, maltodextrin, and ammonium sulfate can be done through the Milk-o-Screen system installed at FSWs.