Maharashtra FDA Launches Campaign Against Milk Adulteration With Strict New Rules
MUMBAI — The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) launched the 'Clean Milk, Safe Health, Adulteration-Free Maharashtra' campaign on July 3, 2026, placing the state's entire milk supply chain under strict surveillance. FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe issued a comprehensive statewide compliance order with immediate effect to eliminate milk adulteration.
The decision follows FDA investigations that revealed milk is being adulterated with hazardous chemicals such as urea, detergent, caustic soda, hydrogen peroxide, formalin, and melamine to manufacture synthetic milk. Inspectors also discovered widespread water dilution, unlicensed dairies, poor hygiene, violations of cold chain norms, and misleading labeling.
Under the new directives, enforcement actions will target every stage of the supply chain. This includes milk producers, collection centres, dairies, processing units, transporters, and distributors.
The compliance order mandates that all containers of raw milk must carry the labels "RAW MILK" and "Boil Before Consumption." Additionally, pasteurised milk can only be sold in sealed, tamper-proof packaging.
Dairy operators must now maintain complete traceability records, ensure proper cold chain management, and verify the medical fitness of employees who handle milk.
"Doodh adulteration is a direct attack on public health. Those who endanger the health of children, pregnant women and senior citizens will not be spared. We will invoke every stringent legal provision available against offenders," said FDA Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe.
The FDA warned that if adulterated or unsafe milk causes illness or death, responsible parties will face criminal action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. Organised adulteration rackets may also face prosecution under other applicable laws.
To curb seasonal adulteration, the FDA plans to conduct special inspections of dairy products like khoya, paneer, and ghee during major festivals, including Ganeshotsav, Navratri, Diwali, Holi, and Raksha Bandhan.
The agency has already accelerated its food sample testing, recording a 462 percent increase in analyzed samples compared to June 2025. Laboratories in Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur analyzed 7,494 of the 13,474 food samples received in June 2026, compared to 1,622 of 9,403 samples during the same period last year. This increase was achieved through two-shift laboratory operations, optimal manpower use, and prioritized testing of dairy and perishable foods.
