The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) launched a nationwide drive on Wednesday following the death of four elderly persons due to acute kidney failure after consuming adulterated milk in Rajahmundry. As part of the drive, inspections are carried out at the units of milk sellers, storekeepers and wholesalers.
IPM, Andhra Pradesh, Director Neelakantha Reddy told The Hindu that samples of milk and other milk products are being collected from the vendors to find out if there is adulteration of urea or starch. At the video conference on Tuesday, Dr. Neelakantha Reddy has asked all the 43 food safety officers in the state to collect 12 samples using special spot analysis kits during the three-day drive.
“We are targeting vendors who sell bulk milk. If the milk or milk products are found to be adulterated, we need reports from laboratories accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) to initiate prosecution,” said Dr. Neelakantha Reddy.
Since there is no NABL accredited laboratory in Andhra Pradesh, the samples would be sent to the laboratories in Hyderabad. Some of them are also sent to a laboratory run by JNTU (Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University) in Kakinada, the official said, adding that they have set a target of collecting 500 samples during the drive.
According to Dr. Neelakantha Reddy, food safety officials collected nearly 150 milk samples on the first day of the drive and sent them to laboratories in Chennai, Kakinada and Hyderabad.
In Anantapur, food safety officers reportedly found quality issues with nearly 100 liters of milk at two different locations and disposed of it. At one dispensary, 30 liters of milk stored in the refrigerator were found to be spoiled. At another location, 70 liters of milk were found to be substandard. In Machilipatnam, officials found quality defects in 20 liters of badam milk. 5 kg of substandard milk powder was seized in Kakinada.
Action will be taken against those found guilty of forgery under the laws, the official said.
Published – 25 February 2026 23:40 IST
