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HEALTH

population and changing food preferences, the de- STRINGENT LAWS PROPOSED
mand for milk and milk products will grow to at least In the meanwhile, those adulterating food prod-
210 million tonnes by 2021–22, a rise of 36 per cent ucts could face life imprisonment and penalty of up
over five years, according to government estimates. To to 10 lakh as per the amendments proposed
boost milk yield, India would need to generate 1,764 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of
million tonnes of fodder by 2020, according to an India (FSSAI) has recommended stringent pun-
IndiaSpend analysis of government data. But existing ishment to curb food adulteration following
sources can only manage about 900 million tonnes of the Supreme Court order. The regulator has asked
fodder–a shortage of 49 per cent. all its state and union territories enforcement divi-
The availability and quality of fodder has a direct sions to strengthen checks on milk producers to
bearing on the quantity and quality of milk produc- ensure they are complying with the Food Safety and
tivity, the data show. All the three states that topped Standards Act.
milk productivity in terms of gram per day–Rajas-
than (704), Haryana (877) and Punjab (1,032)–had Readers are invited to send their
earmarked more than 10 per cent of their cultivable personal experiences & suggestions
land for pastures, according to the 2015 SOIL report. related to contaminated drinking milk
The national average is 337. LETTERS@TEHELKA.COM

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