New norms check bacteria presence in milk

The Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has made it mandatory for the food and drugs department of every state to test for harmful bacteria like e coli in milk this year. This apart, the milk producers too will have to test for bacterial content like staphaureus and listeria monocytogenes before pushing it into the market. The new set of standards was first introduced across the nation in August 2011. The producers will have to declare on their packets that the milk is certified e coli, staphaureus and listeria monocytogenes free. The FSSAI has laid down standards for 10 types of milk that include buffalo, cow, goat or sheep, mixed, standardized, re-combined, toned, double-toned, skimmed and full-cream milk. The food and drugs department of the state will be responsible for monitoring of the milk samples for bacteria content. FSSAI will also check randomly for bacteria content once in a while. Gujarat's food and drugs commissioner H G Koshia told TOI, that nearly 45 designated officers and several food inspectors have been trained in checking milk and other food samples for contamination. "The FSSAI had provided us manual for food inspectors. We would be one of the first states to comply with new standards. The inspection of bacterial content in milk is also a concern in areas which are supplied loose milk as presence of microorganisms says a lot about milk processing and handling," says Koshia. Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation managing director R S Sodhi said, "We have been checking bacteria content at our dairies, which is a routine activity." from India Times.