New Delhi: In a nationwide survey on milk adulteration by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), 68.4% of the samples lifted from 33 states did not confirm to the prescribed standards, the government said on Tuesday.

The survey that was conducted through FSSAI’s five regional offices in 2011, a total of 1,791 samples were drawn from 33 states and were tested in the government laboratories, minister for health and family welfare, J.P. Nadda said in Rajya Sabha.

While replying to a question on milk adulteration, Nadda said,"68.4% of the samples were found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards. Out of these samples, in 46.8% were found to be sub-standard in respect of Fat and Solid Not Fat (SNF) contents".

“Another 548 samples (44.69%) of skim milk powder were found to be non-conforming to the prescribed standards where presence of glucose was detected in 477 samples. A total of 103 samples (5.75%) were found to be adulterated with detergents," he said.

The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 provides for graded penalties including life imprisonment. However, its implementation and enforcement primarily rests with state and Union Territories governments, the minister said.

“Random samples of food items are drawn by the State Food Safety officers and are sent to the laboratories recognised by FSSAI for analysis. In cases, where samples are found to be not conforming to the provisions of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, penal action is initiated against the offender," he said.

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