Spurious milk inflow from Tamil Nadu on the rise

Tanker carrying 12,750 litres of urea-mixed milk caught at Meenakshipuram

The inflow of adulterated milk from Tamil Nadu into Kerala has increased especially in view of the upcoming Onam celebrations. Several lakhs of litres of milk reach Kerala every day from the neighbouring State.

The Dairy Development department on Thursday caught a tanker carrying 12,750 litres of urea-mixed milk at Meenakshipuram check-post. The presence of a high amount of urea was detected during a routine testing done at the Dairy Development department laboratory at Meenakshipuram.

“We did the test thrice to confirm, and we were surprised to find a high amount of urea in the milk,” said Dairy Development Officer Abhin C.M. The tanker that came from Krishnagiri was carrying the milk to Thrissur. It was handed over to the Food Safety department for further action. The Food Safety department has reportedly sent the tanker back to Tamil Nadu after collecting samples for examination.

It is suspected that the urea was added for increasing the solids-not-fat (SNF) content of the milk. It is learned that some milk producers would add chemicals, including urea, to a tolerable level to strengthen the milk.

Thursday’s was the largest detection of spurious milk from Tamil Nadu in recent times. J.S. Jayasujeesh, Dairy Development department Deputy Director, said that they would enhance the vigil at the border in view of Onam celebration. He said a new laboratory would soon be set up at Walayar border.

The Dairy Development department has at present only one check-post and a laboratory at Meenakshipuram. About 3.25 lakh litres of milk is being brought to Kerala from Tamil Nadu through Meenakshipuram check-post every day.

Through Walayar, where the department has no lab or check-post at present, nearly two lakh litres of milk is reaching Kerala every day. And there are six other border gates through which vehicles are entering Kerala from Tamil Nadu.