The market monitoring team of the department found that the samples of the pasteurized milk from the two dairies had higher Coliform count and even contained bacteria named E coli. E coli are bacteria that are harmful to health and can cause serious infections.[break]
According to the standards, the Coliform count in milk should not exceed 10 grams.
“We found that both the dairies were operated very unhygienically, had even contained E coli bacteria and had higher Coliform counts. Besides, the fat percentage and Solid Non Fat (SNF) percentage were low as per the standard,” said Pramod Koirala, spokesperson and senior food officer of DFTQC.
As per the standards, the pasteurized milk should have at least 3 percent of fat and 7 percent of SNF.
“We have sealed both the dairies and asked them to propose the details on how they will improve the standard and maintain hygiene. After they submit their proposal and improve accordingly, we will again monitor them, and if everything is okay, we will allow them to re-operate,” said Koirala.
Likewise on September 13, 2011, the monitoring team found that Pushpa Dairy in Balaju contained excessive amount of Coliform. The team destroyed some 1,000 liters of contaminated milk at Pushpa Dairy.
The team had found that the dairy was using a broken filter system and mixing contaminated water in the milk that was ready for selling.
The inspection team ordered the firm to change or repair the filter system, label the products properly and not to use powdered milk until they come up with a lab report.
On September 15, 2011, the District Monitoring Committee of Bhaktapur sealed two dairy firms: Kalika Dairy and Sainju Dairy, as they were found producing and distributing their products without mentioning the manufacturing and expiry dates on the packets. The monitoring team had also found that Sainju Dairy was mixing contaminated water along with adulterated milk powder.
Similarly, the packet milk produced by the Kalika Dairy was found with less weight and distributing their products without mentioning manufacturing and expiry dates.
According to DFTQC report, government lab tests have even showed presence of radioactive elements in the samples of milk packets collected on different occasion. Forty percent of the samples of pasteurized milk contain harmful bacteria and pesticides, as per the report.
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