Government to make adulteration of milk a serious crime

NEW DELHI: The government will amend the Food Safety and Standards Act to make adulteration of milk and food items a serious crime punishable with a harsh penalty.

Pointing to a Supreme Court observation which had sought "appropriate amendments" in the Act so that "such type of crimes could be curbed", Health Minister Harsh Vardhan today told Rajya Sabha that his ministry had decided to amend it in the light of these observations.

He also admitted that adulterated milk is adversely affecting the health of people.

The apex court had said, "Considering the gravity of the situation as well as in larger public interest it is highly necessary that Union of India should think of making appropriate amendments in the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, so that such type if crimes could be curbed to a large extent".

The court had suggested that the crime of adulteration of milk should be made punishable with life imprisonment.