New data show dairy products are the state’s most unsafe food category, intensifying pressure for stronger controls.
Madhya Pradesh is facing a growing food safety crisis, with officials warning that nearly half of the state’s population may be consuming adulterated food products. Dairy items have emerged as the most unsafe category, with milk, paneer, ghee and other products repeatedly failing laboratory tests across the state.
Government data show that dairy products account for the highest number of unsafe and substandard samples. In Indore alone, more than 14% of food samples tested in 2023 were found to be unsafe, substandard or misbranded, with milk products and spices representing the biggest concern. Across Madhya Pradesh, roughly one in every 30 food samples tested between April and September 2025 failed to meet legal standards.
Authorities have uncovered several large-scale cases involving adulterated dairy products. In early 2026, food safety teams seized 27 quintals of suspected adulterated mawa and 45 kilograms of paneer in Bhopal ahead of the Holi festival. Investigators also raided dairy companies accused of replacing milk fat with palm oil and harmful chemicals while using falsified laboratory certificates to export products overseas.
The problem has become severe enough to trigger public protests and tougher enforcement measures. Residents in Bhopal recently took to the streets demanding harsher punishment for food adulteration, while authorities have filed criminal cases and carried out repeated raids on dairy processors and food manufacturers. Officials say declining levels of food testing in recent years have made the issue harder to control.
For India’s dairy sector, the situation highlights the urgent need for tighter quality control, better traceability and more rigorous enforcement throughout the supply chain. As the world’s largest milk producer, India’s reputation depends on restoring consumer confidence and ensuring that dairy products meet both domestic and international safety standards.
Source: Free Press Journal original article
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