CHENNAI: “Curd is being changed back to milk by private suppliers,” alleged dairy minister KT Rajenthra Bhalaji on Thursday, continuing his attack on private players for the third day in a row. The minister also threw open a challenge to prove him wrong. The units, however, stood their ground, saying their products are unadulterated.
“Private companies add Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) acid to milk to make it last longer,” he added. “Unadulterated milk will get spoilt five hours after being taken out of the refrigerator,” he said, guaranteeing that Aavin would pass this test.
The minister said four secret teams have been deployed in Chennai, Tiruchy, Coimbatore and Salem to test samples from private firms.
“My basic investigation after reading petitions and complaints has proved that these companies definitely use additives,” he said, adding that these four teams would find the truth.
Private companies have however stepped up their defence stating that their milk remains pure. “Our milk undergoes 42 tests from procurement to delivery stage to ensure highest standards are met for our customers,” Prasanna, spokesperson of Hatsun Agro Products that retail as Arokya Milk told Express.
Prasanna added that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regularly sample and test their products. The company claims to use 264 refrigerated vehicles, puff insulated vehicles, storage facilities at distribution centres and cooling units at retails.
“We procure about 27 lakh litres of milk and supply 20 lakh in the State,” he said remarking that all milk distributed within TN is procured within the State.