The Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM) launched a State-wide drive on Wednesday following the death of four elderly persons due to acute renal failure after consuming adulterated milk in Rajahmundry. As part of the drive, inspections are being carried out at the units of milk vendors, storage operators, and wholesale dealers.

IPM, Andhra Pradesh, Director Neelakantha Reddy told The Hindu that samples of milk and other dairy products are being collected from vendors to check if there is any urea or starch adulteration. In a video conference on Tuesday, Dr. Neelakantha Reddy asked all the 43 food safety officers in the State to collect 12 samples using special kits for conducting spot analysis, during the three-day drive.

“We are focussing on vendors who sell unpackaged milk. If milk or milk products are found adulterated, we need reports from the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)-accredited labs to launch prosecution,” Dr. Neelakantha Reddy said.

Since there is no NABL-accredited lab in Andhra Pradesh, the samples would be sent to labs in Hyderabad. Some of them are also being sent to a lab managed 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 officers collected nearly 150 milk samples on the first day of the drive and sent them to labs in Chennai, Kakinada and Hyderabad.

In Anantapur, the Food Safety officers reportedly identified quality issues in nearly 100 litres of milk at two different locations and disposed it. At one outlet, 30 litres of milk stored in a refrigerator was found to be spoiled. At another location, 70 litres of milk was found to be substandard. In Machilipatnam, officials found quality defects in 20 litres of badam milk. In Kakinada, 5kg of substandard milk powder was seized.

Action would be taken against those found guilty of adulteration as per laws, the official said.