Adulteration found in 3,049 milk samples supplied to Karnataka dairies in a year: Govt. informs Council

Adulteration was detected in 3,049 milk samples supplied to dairies in Karnataka during the one year from January 2025 to January this year, Floor leader N.S. Boseraju informed the Legislative Council on behalf of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday.

Replying to a question by Congress member Madhu G. Made Gowda, he said that during the period, 15,15,575 milk samples were collected by 19 milk unions and units across the State for testing.

Among the districts, Hassan recorded the highest number of adulterated samples at 788, followed by Ballari (588), Shivamogga (434), Mandya (418), and Kalaburagi (315). In a written reply, the House was informed that adulteration had been detected in milk supplied by the private company Dodla Dairy.

At the same time, no cases of adulteration were detected in samples collected from Kolar, Chickballapur, Dakshina Kannada, Nandini Hi-Tech Product Plant at Channarayapatna, Nandini Hi-Tech Mega Powder Plant at Kanva, Ramanagara, and Mother Dairy.

No cases filed

Despite milk adulteration being an offence punishable with a minimum of three months’ imprisonment and up to life imprisonment, no criminal cases have been registered against those supplying adulterated milk to dairies, the Floor leader said.

Instead, when adulteration is detected in milk supplied to milk producers’ cooperative societies affiliated to district milk unions, the milk is rejected, and the producers are counselled and warned to prevent recurrence. Officials make periodic visits to such societies and conduct further testing.

Salt and sugar found

In several instances, salt and sugar were found to have been mixed with milk supplied by producers to primary milk producers’ cooperative societies.

To detect adulteration, testing kits have been provided to all primary milk producers’ cooperative societies, and milk received from these societies is also subjected to multiple tests at the dairy level before being accepted.

The Minister added that the Karnataka Milk Federation has constituted a vigilance team to monitor milk sold under the Nandini milk brand. If adulteration is detected in milk sold under the brand, a police complaint will be lodged, he said.