Adulterated milk: 21pc water found, 12 oxytocin packs seized, shop sealed in Quetta

QUETTA: The Balochistan Food Authority (BFA) has stepped up action to stop the sale of adulterated milk and yogurt. BFA food safety teams, along with the district administration, carried out surprise inspections on Eastern Bypass and Jattak Stop in Quetta and checked a number of dairy farms and milk shops.

The action was taken on the orders of Quetta Deputy Commissioner Mehrullah Badini, in the presence of Assistant Commissioner Sariab Kabir Ahmed Mazari and Special Magistrate Izzatullah. BFA food safety and mobile laboratory teams inspected eight dairy units, a number of milk shops and milk suppliers in all. Four units were fined for a number of violations, including adulteration of milk and yogurt, and one milk shop was sealed. According to the district administration, eight people were also arrested for adulteration and other violations.

Dry powder in yogurt, water in milk

During the inspection, two dairy farms were fined for unhygienic conditions, failure to follow standards for handling and storing milk, lack of required documents and no medical records for workers. It also emerged that oxytocin injections were being given to livestock. Twelve packs of oxytocin injections were seized on the spot.

Dry powder was found mixed in the yogurt of two milk shops, and they did not have a BFA licence either. Both were fined. At one milk shop, 21 per cent water was found in the milk and skimmed milk in the yogurt. It was sealed for food safety violations and for operating without a licence. The teams also issued two corrective notices, directing dairy farm owners and milk sellers to follow food safety SOPs strictly.

Balochistan Food Authority Director General Habibullah Khan said there would be no compromise on providing the public with quality, pure and safe milk and food items. He said laws on cleanliness, standard handling, licensing and adulteration must be enforced at dairy farms and milk shops. Protecting public health is the BFA’s top priority, he said, and field operations will continue to ensure the supply of safe food.

Photo: courtesy DGPR Balochistan