Karnataka Milk Federation Finds Nearly 0.2% of Milk Samples Adulterated,
Over 3,000 Milk Samples Failed Quality Tests
Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) has reported that nearly 0.20% of milk samples tested at procurement centres across Karnataka were found to be adulterated between January 2025 and January 2026.
According to federation data:
- A total of 15.15 lakh milk samples were tested.
- 3,049 samples tested positive for adulteration.
- Adulterants detected included salts, sugar, urea and other chemicals.
Among KMF’s 16 milk union units, the highest number of adulteration cases were reported in:
- Hassan
- Shivamogga
- Ballari
- Belagavi
- Kalaburagi
- Mandya
- Dharwad
Water Adulteration Most Common
Senior KMF officials stated that the majority of rejected samples involved water adulteration, while chemical contamination cases remained comparatively low.
Officials explained that every litre of milk procured from farmers undergoes 14 separate quality tests before being accepted for processing.
Milk that fails to meet prescribed standards for:
- Fat content
- Solids-not-fat (SNF)
- Thickness and density
- Purity parameters
is rejected immediately at procurement centres.
Hassan Unit Reported High Rejection Numbers
Mahesh H said most cases involved dilution with water rather than dangerous chemical adulteration.
According to him:
- Around 1.64 lakh samples were tested across nearly 1,700 active milk societies in Hassan district.
- 788 samples failed to meet quality standards and were rejected.
He stated that variations in milk thickness and composition are quickly detected during procurement testing.
Sugar Adulteration Used to Manipulate Fat Readings
Kalasada D T said a very small number of farmers were found adding sugar to artificially alter fat-related readings during testing.
KMF officials clarified that such practices remain limited but are closely monitored during routine procurement checks.
Read More: Whole Milk Revival Opens New Growth Path for Global Dairy Industry
Awareness Preferred Over Punishment
Under Section 59 of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India regulations, food adulteration can attract legal punishment. However, KMF officials said most farmers caught supplying adulterated milk are generally issued warnings rather than facing prosecution.
Shivaswamy B stated that the biggest immediate penalty for suppliers is rejection of milk at the village procurement level itself.
He emphasized that:
- Farmer awareness is more important than punitive action.
- Maintaining milk quality protects consumer trust.
- Village-level screening helps prevent adulterated milk from entering the processing chain.
KMF Among India’s Largest Dairy Cooperatives
Karnataka Milk Federation is India’s second-largest milk cooperative with more than 27 lakh milk producer members.
Key operational figures include:
- Karnataka produces nearly 99 lakh kg of milk daily.
- KMF reportedly makes daily payments of around Rs 35 crore to dairy farmers.
Officials also acknowledged that milk adulteration is not limited to cooperative networks and has also been observed in private dairy supply chains across the state.
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