Cattle farmers reject UVAS survey on milk quality

LAHORE: The Dairy & Cattle Farmers Association (DCFA) has outrightly rejected loose milk survey conducted by the University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences (UVAS), terming it a conspiracy for promoting sale of packaged milk being sold by powerful companies.

Speaking at a Press conference held here Monday at Lahore Press Club, office bearers of DCFA squarely blamed UVAS management for adopting what they called tilted approach while evaluating the safety and quality of loose milk in the country. They alleged that “university’s one-sided approach proved to be anti-dairy farmer and negate positive role of fresh milk supply chain.”

Dairy farmers were commenting on the nationwide survey in 11 cities across the country on milk quality and safety which indicates that 54 per cent of loose milk samples were found unsuitable for human consumption, and a striking 92 per cent did not comply with quality and safety standards.

Reacting to the contents of the survey, dairy and cattle farmers vowed to bring ‘nefarious design behind the survey’ in the notice of relevant quarters coupled with challenging its findings before court of law. If fresh milk is adulterated and unfit for the human consumption, what Punjab Food Authority (PFA) and other institutions are doing to stop this menace, they observed