The Punjab State and Chandigarh (UT) Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu notice of the growing concern over substandard milk and dairy products being sold in Ludhiana, escalating the issue into a major public health matter. The Commission acted after reports revealed that 211 samples of milk and dairy products collected over the past two years had failed quality tests and were declared substandard.
Out of 1,220 samples tested, paneer emerged as the worst offender with 71 failed samples, followed by desi ghee with 27 failed samples. Other products tested included milk, curd and lassi. The Commission has now issued notices to the Commissioner, Food Safety, Punjab, and the Director, Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, seeking detailed reports on prosecutions launched against violators and measures being taken to curb milk adulteration.
Commission members Gurbir Singh and Jitender Singh Shunty observed that the matter directly concerns consumer health and food safety rights, especially as dairy adulteration cases tend to rise during festive seasons. Authorities stated that strict legal action is being initiated under the Food Safety and Standards Act, with penalties reaching up to ₹5 lakh for substandard products and up to ₹10 lakh plus six months’ imprisonment for products deemed unsafe for human consumption.
Amid rising public concern, Punjab’s Food and Drugs Administration has also intensified statewide enforcement drives, collecting nearly 200 milk samples in a two-day crackdown targeting dairy farms, collection centres, processing units and retail outlets across the state. Industry observers say the incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for stronger food traceability, stricter dairy quality control and continuous monitoring across India’s dairy supply chain. (The Tribune)
Source: Dairynews7x7 13 May, 2026 Read full story here
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