JOIN USCongress MLC Dayanand on Friday claimed that contamination of milk and milk products produced by the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) was posing a serious threat to human health.
KMF was not taking any measure to ensure that cattle are not exposed to contaminated water, he told Animal Husbandry Minister Revu Naik Belamagi in the Legislative Council during the Question Hour.
“Groundwater in most villages is replete with fluoride content. The cattle are exposed to the same. The milk procured from these animals is a threat to people’s health.” He said KMF should make sure cattle are supplied with treated water.
Dayanand said though KMF produced milk powder out of 13 lakh litres, there were not many takers to it because of its bad quality. He also suggested KMF to stop supplying milk in plastic packets, and instead supply it in bottles. Belamagi said milk unions and units working under KMF made sure that the quality of milk and milk products was examined before they were released in the market.
Official version
KMF Additional Director (Quality Control) B Nataraj claimed that the federation has not received any complaints regarding fluoride or any other content that would pose danger to human health.
Nataraj said regular quality checks for heavy metals (like lead, arsenic, chromite), anti biotics, pesticide residues, veterinary drug residues and fluoride are conducted once in three months only at National Accreditation Board for Laboratories certified labs.
“The above mentioned chemical contents are within the permissible limits and we have not encountered problems with quality of milk in the State,” he said.