Parliament Question: Deaths due to milk adulteration in Andhra Pradesh

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 3629 TO BE ANSWERED ON24th MARCH, 2026 DEATHS DUE TOMILK ADULTERATION IN ANDHRAPRADESH 3629. SHRI GOLLABABURAO: Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) how the Ministry conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspections andtakes sample of food products, includingmilk,through FSSAI, etc.; (b) whether Government is aware that 8 people, mostly elderly and children, died in Laala Cheruvu, Chowdeswari Nagar, etc. in Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, in the first week of March, 2026; (c) whether the Ministry is aware that there are unauthorized and illegal milk dairies running rampantinAndhra Pradesh;and (d) if so, what action Ministry, FSSAI and other agencies have taken against the culprits responsible for those deaths and the steps taken or to be taken to stop illegal milk dairies in the State? ANSWER THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) to (d): Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is mandated to lay down science based standards for articles of food and to regulate their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale and import to ensure availability of safe and wholesome food for human consumption. The implementation and enforcement of the Food Safety and Standards (FSS) Act, 2006isa shared responsibility between the Central andStateGovernments. For compliance with the set standards, limits, & other statutory requirements under the Act and Food Safety & Standards Regulations (FSSR), FSSAI, through its 4 (four) Regional offices and State/UT food safety authorities conducts localized/targeted special enforcement and surveillance drives including National Annual Surveillance Plan (NASP), inspections and sampling activities. Targeted drives are conducted for high-risk products like milk,edible oils, andsweets, especially during festive seasons.FSSAI has developed Risk Based Inspection System (RBIS) where frequency of inspection is decided based on risk associated with Food business and issued guidelines. If anydeviations from the standards or violations tothe FSSRare observed, the defaultingFood Business Operators (FBOs) including food service establishments have been subjected to regulatory actions, including punitive measures, as stipulated under the FSS Act, 2006 and rulesandregulationsmade thereunder. The FoSCORIS (Food Safety Compliance through Regular Inspection and Sampling) system allows FSSAI and State Food Safety Commissioners to track inspections and sample collection on a real-time basis. If samples fail to meet standards, FSSAI/State Authorities take enforcement actions which include product recalls, seizures, fines, cancellation or suspension of licenses, andprosecution of offenders. FSSAI has notified 252 National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accredited food testing laboratories for analysis of food samples. In addition, 24 Referral Food Laboratories have been notified for the analysis of appellate samples. FSSAI has also provided funds for Mobile Food Testing Laboratory (MFTL) referred to as “Food Safety on wheels” (FSW) to States/UTs. It is an important means to combat adulteration as FSWs are equipped with basic infrastructure for on spot testing of adulteration in various food commodities. Currently, 305 FSWs are deployed across 35 States/UTs. Further, FSSAI hasfacilitated rapid food testing methodstoreduce the screening time of the food products at the field level and accelerate surveillance as well as monitoring activities. RAPID Kits are advanced, easy to use, portable and handheld devices and don't require any sophisticated equipment or conventional reagents to conduct the tests. Currently, 86RapidAnalyticalFood Testing(RAFT)Kits have beenapproved byFSSAI. As per section 31 & 63 of FSS Act 2006, the FBOs including Milk dairies are required to obtain food license/ registration. FSSAI has issued an advisory on 11.03.2026 for mandatory registration/license by Milk Producers (other than members of dairy cooperative societies) / Milk Vendors. With respect to the deaths reported in Andhra Pradesh, a criminal case has been registered against the milk vendor under relevant sections of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita(BNSS)and one arrest hasbeenmade. *****