A troubling incident involving a packet of Mother Dairy milk has raised serious questions about food safety, quality control, and consumer protection in India’s dairy sector. The milk, which reportedly carries a shelf life of up to 90 days, was found spoiled and foul-smelling 11 days before its expiry date, triggering concerns over whether safety protocols are being followed beyond paperwork.
Mother Dairy is one of India’s most trusted dairy brands, widely relied upon by millions of households. However, this incident has sparked debate over how rigorously quality checks are conducted before milk reaches consumers’ kitchens.
Key Questions That Demand Answers
The premature spoilage of milk raises several direct and unavoidable questions:
●Was the batch subjected to proper microbiological testing before packaging?
Milk products with extended shelf life require stringent bacterial and pathogen testing. Any lapse at this stage can compromise safety.
●Was there a breakdown in the cold chain?
Even a brief temperature fluctuation during storage or transportation can accelerate bacterial growth, rendering milk unsafe well before expiry.
●Who is accountable for storage and transportation monitoring?
From processing plants to distributors and retail outlets, responsibility often becomes fragmented—leading to gaps in oversight.
●Is shelf life scientifically validated for every batch, or merely declared on paper?
Shelf life claims must be backed by real-time testing under controlled conditions, not assumptions.
●Why are consumer complaints not followed by immediate sample testing?
In many cases, customers report spoiled products, yet samples are neither collected promptly nor results made public, weakening consumer trust.
A Bigger Consumer Safety Issue
Food safety experts note that expiry dates are only meaningful if every link in the supply chain functions correctly. A long shelf life printed on packaging cannot compensate for lapses in hygiene, temperature control, or quality audits.
Consumers rely on expiry dates to make informed decisions. When a product fails well before that date, it is not just a quality issue—it becomes a public health concern, especially for children, elderly people, and those with compromised immunity.
Need for Transparency and Accountability
Incidents like these underline the urgent need for:
●Independent third-party audits
●Transparent disclosure of test results
●Faster redressal mechanisms for consumer complaints
●Stronger enforcement by food safety regulators
Until brands openly address such failures, confidence in packaged dairy products risks erosion.
For a country that prides itself on being the world’s largest milk producer, ensuring safety, honesty, and accountability in dairy supply chains is no longer optional—it is essential.
