Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration to Equip State with 50 Mobile Milk Analyzers by August 2025 in an Effort to Combat Adulteration
The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is taking a significant step towards ensuring the purity of milk consumed across the region. By August 2025, the FDA plans to deploy 50 portable milk scanners statewide [1]. These devices will enable immediate verification of milk purity, helping to curb milk adulteration.
The portable Milkoscan devices use advanced technologies such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for rapid analysis of milk components [2]. They can assess up to 16 parameters, including fat percentage, solids-not-fat (SNF), protein content, density, and detect harmful adulterants like urea, starch, glucose, neutralizers, sodium chloride, detergent, and ammonium sulfate [1].
These scanners work by identifying changes in milk composition caused by adulterants, allowing quick and reliable detection without the need for time-consuming laboratory testing [4]. This on-site testing eliminates delays and the risk of sample spoilage associated with sending milk to labs, enabling the FDA to take swift enforcement action against violators [1].
The FDA's strategy also includes monitoring city entry points to intercept suspicious milk consignments. The portable scanners will be stationed at locations known for past incidents of milk adulteration or where suspicious consignments have been intercepted [1].
In addition to milk, the Milkoscan devices offer accurate and consistent results for a variety of dairy products, including cream and plant-based alternatives [2]. The FDA has procured two advanced Milkoscan machines for its laboratory for detailed milk analysis [1].
The FDA is also planning to launch a hygiene rating system for food delivery outlets and hotels across the region, further strengthening its efforts to ensure food safety [1]. This comprehensive approach underscores the Maharashtra FDA's commitment to protecting consumers from adulterated milk and maintaining high standards of food safety.
[1] Maharashtra FDA Introduces Portable Milk Scanners to Combat Adulteration. (2023, March 10). Retrieved from https://www.maharashtrafda.gov.in/news/maharashtra-fda-introduces-portable-milk-scanners-to-combat-adulteration
[2] How Milkoscan Works. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.milkoscan.com/how-it-works
[3] Advances in Milk Adulteration Detection. (2022, February 14). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/food-science/milk-adulteration
[4] Rapid Detection of Milk Adulteration Using Portable Spectroscopic Devices. (2019, January 1). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6334513/
- The news about India's Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is encouraging as they are taking significant steps to combat milk adulteration, such as deploying portable milk scanners statewide by August 2025.
- The introduction of these advanced Milkoscan devices will not only help in ensuring the purity of milk but also offer accurate results for a variety of dairy products like cream and plant-based alternatives.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness and nutrition, the FDA's focus on food safety with their hygiene rating system for food delivery outlets and hotels across the region is a commendable step towards maintaining and improving lifestyle and food quality.
- The use of science and technology in the form of Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy in these portable milk scanners enables quick and reliable detection of harmful adulterants in milk, which aligns with the broader goal of the Indian national news to promote honest practices in the food and drug sector.
