Kerala faces quality concerns over milk from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during Onam due to inadequate inspections. With rising imports, there are fears of adulteration, including palm oil, impacting consumer safety.
Kerala is facing growing concerns over the quality of milk entering the state from neighboring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during the Onam festival. Reports indicate that the state’s milk inspection system is falling short, leading to fears that adulterated milk containing palm oil is reaching consumers.
Despite guidelines requiring milk testing at district-level quality control labs, it has been revealed that inspections are inconsistent. Only the Aryankavu check post in Kollam and the Meenakshipuram check post in Palakkad operate 24-hour quality checks, while elsewhere, testing is often neglected. This has raised alarms, as tanker lorries carrying between 15,000 and 20,000 liters of milk frequently cross state borders without undergoing proper inspections.
According to officials from Kerala’s Dairy Development Department, food safety inspectors collect milk samples from markets for testing at analytical labs, but these tests are often conducted after the milk has already been sold. While mobile food testing labs and temporary inspection stations have been set up at some border posts, a permanent inspection system has yet to be established in all 12 districts of the state.
Adulteration Concerns and Fat Content
The issue becomes more pronounced during Onam, when milk imports from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu increase five to six times the usual quantity. Milk distribution companies often source milk from these states due to its higher fat content, but concerns over adulteration are mounting. Palm oil, which has a similar fatty acid profile to milk fat, is commonly added to increase the fat content of the milk.
In a disturbing incident in 2022, 12,750 liters of milk brought into Kerala from Tamil Nadu were found to contain urea, highlighting the seriousness of adulteration practices. Despite efforts to maintain quality control, the lack of consistent inspections at border check posts is allowing adulterated milk to reach Kerala consumers.
As the state continues to grapple with these challenges, authorities must strengthen inspection protocols to ensure milk quality, especially during high-demand periods like Onam.
