Chandigarh/Jammu: A major quality concern has emerged after the Indian Army rejected a consignment of whole milk powder supplied by Punjab’s state dairy cooperative Milkfed Punjab under its flagship brand Verka.
The rejection involves approximately 125 metric tonnes of milk powder sent to an Army Service Corps unit in Jammu. According to official communication, the consignment was found “non-compliant with prescribed standards” due to the presence of extraneous (thread-like) substances.
Sample Failed Twice
A sample of around 753 kg was tested by the Food Inspection Organisation under the Ministry of Defence. The product reportedly failed quality checks twice, with final rejection communicated on March 12.
The consignment included two batches:
- 58.338 MT
- 66.654 MT
Both were rejected after failing laboratory analysis, despite a re-evaluation request by Milkfed Punjab.
Milkfed Orders Inquiry
Responding to the development, Rahul Gupta, Managing Director of Milkfed, stated that the cooperative has initiated a fact-finding committee to investigate the issue.
He emphasized that the organization follows a multi-layered quality assurance system, including:
- Raw material testing
- In-process checks
- Final product verification
Further, the rejected batch will undergo additional testing at the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) laboratory for independent validation.
Read More: The ‘Forgotten Nandi’: The Silent Force Behind India’s Dairy Growth
“This appears to be a rare incident. There has never been a rejection of our products in the past. The issue relates to extraneous matter, possibly introduced during packaging or handling,” Gupta said, adding that the Army remains a valued long-term client.
High-Value Supply Chain
Milkfed Punjab supplies dairy products worth nearly ₹100 crore annually to the Indian Army, including milk powder, cheese, UHT milk, lassi, and flavoured milk.
Political Reactions Intensify
The issue has triggered strong reactions from opposition leaders:
- Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa raised concerns about public health implications
- Amrinder Singh Raja Warring termed it “criminal negligence”
- Bikram Singh Majithia alleged gross administrative failure
Calls for a high-level inquiry have intensified, with questions being raised about quality control and accountability.
Quality and Trust at Stake
The incident underscores the importance of:
- Strict contamination control in dairy processing
- Packaging hygiene and monitoring
- Robust testing protocols for institutional supply chains
Even isolated lapses can significantly impact brand reputation, institutional trust, and food safety assurance, particularly when supplying critical sectors like the armed forces.
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