Township selected as testing ground for pasteurised milk

Comprehensive plan for availability of healthy produce enters final stages

LAHORE: Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has selected the township area as the initial testing ground to conduct a survey to learn about the consumption of milk and make people aware of the pasteurisation process.

This was revealed by PFA Director General Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman during a press briefing on Tuesday. Talking to the media, Usman said PFA would start providing pasteurised milk at the doorstep of consumers in light of the survey results.

He said a comprehensive plan for the availability of healthy and pure milk has entered its final stages under a pilot project of pasteurisation. The DG further said PFA would spread this project across the city after executing it successfully in one area. He said that the sale of loose milk would be completely banned by 2022.

Usman said the packaging standards of pasteurised milk have been predetermined, while PFA was working to complete legislation related to milk supply vehicles before the end of December 2019. He said it was easier to keep an eye on a few hundred pasteurised units as compared to thousands of milk selling points.

“Pasteurisation is the only solution to the elimination of milk adulteration in Punjab.” He appreciated the role of the media to spread the message of the PFA. The teams will go for a door-to-door for a survey and remain in the field from 9am to 3pm. He briefed the media about the pasteurisation law and its execution plan.

Meanwhile, joint teams of the PFA and Livestock Department have kicked off the survey campaign. Earlier, the Punjab Food Authority (PFA) approved the preparation and sale of pasteurised milk in the provincial capital on an experimental basis.

During the experimental period, there will be no ban on the sale of open milk. Following the instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan, the food authority approved the sale of pasteurised milk to ensure the provision of pure, unadulterated and healthy milk in the provincial capital.

PFA Director General (DG) Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman said that in order to examine the demand of pasteurised milk, surveys will be conducted from different areas of the city. “The operation teams will survey for the demand and quality of milk in each household.”

In light of the result of this survey, arrangements will be made for supplying pasteurised milk. The DG added that in areas where there is pasteurised milk, the loose variety will also be available there. “The public is aware of the problems of loose milk and the benefits of pasteurised milk.” Content has also been finalised for public awareness on pasteurization.

PFA officials said that all appropriate media will be used for public awareness. The team will also give awareness lectures during the door to door survey free of charge. The provision of pure milk will be ensured with the support and consultation of all departments concerned, including livestock.

The food authority has given a deadline of 2022 to impose a ban on the sale of loose milk. The unit will be installed in different areas of the provincial capital for the pasteurisation of milk where dairy farms and milkmen will be registered.

The quality of milk brought to the pasteurisation unit will be checked on the spot and records will be kept. Details such as unit name, packing and expiry date will be written on the packaging of the pasteurised milk.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2019.