Mani explained that the addition of milk powder is a standard practice to meet regulatory quality benchmarks under Indian food safety norms, which require milk sold in Kerala to contain at least 8.5% solids-not-fat (SNF) and a minimum fat content of 3%. By topping up with a controlled amount of high-quality powder, Milma ensures the packaged milk complies with these standards and maintains consistent texture and nutritional value.

The chairman framed the misinformation about full milk-powder milk as an attempt to damage Milma’s reputation and destabilize consumer confidence. He emphasised that the cooperative prioritises quality assurance and customer trust, maintaining that its milk meets all statutory requirements, rather than exploiting powder as a cost-cutting substitute for fresh milk.

Milma’s clarification appears amid broader scrutiny of milk quality and processing practices in India’s dairy sector, where consumer awareness of milk composition, SNF content and product labelling has risen sharply. Federations like Milma balance procurement from local dairy farmers with stringent processing standards to deliver stable product quality across diverse market conditions.