How safe are milk products? Report shows major firms fail quality check

An investigation by Trustified has raised concerns about the safety of milk consumed daily in Indian households, suggesting that products from some of the country’s most widely trusted brands may not meet prescribed quality standards.

Trustified, which conducts independent laboratory testing, reported that milk samples from Amul, Mother Dairy and Country Delight did not meet key microbiological safety parameters.

The tests examined Total Plate Count (TPC) and the presence of coliform bacteria—indicators used to assess whether milk is free from harmful microorganisms. While coliform bacteria themselves may not always be dangerous, Trustified noted that higher levels often signal the possible presence of other disease-causing bacteria.

According to the findings, microbiological analysis was carried out to determine whether the products were safe for consumption, and the results were described as alarming.

Trustified said that Mother Dairy cow milk recorded a TPC of 2.2,40,000 CFU/ml, nearly eight times higher than the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) limit of 30,000 CFU/ml. Country Delight cow milk, despite marketing itself as fresh milk delivered directly from farms, was found to have a TPC of 60,000 CFU/ml—double the permissible limit, Siasat Daily reported.

The report also claimed that Amul milk showed excessive levels of coliform bacteria. Amul Taaza reportedly contained 980 CFU/ml of coliforms, while Amul Gold had 25 CFU/ml, both exceeding FSSAI’s prescribed safe limits.

Trustified further stated that concerns were not limited to milk alone. Tests conducted in January on Amul’s Masti Dahi allegedly found coliform bacteria levels over 2,000 times higher than acceptable limits, along with yeast and mould counts far exceeding standards, which the organisation said pointed to serious lapses in food safety practices.

Amul, however, rejected the conclusions and maintained that its products comply with FSSAI norms. The food regulator has not publicly responded to the findings so far.

The investigation also flagged issues with eggs sold by Eggoz Nutrition India. Trustified reported that tests conducted in December detected traces of AOZ, a banned antibiotic metabolite associated with long-term cancer risks, in the brand’s eggs. AOZ is prohibited in several countries.

Trustified underlined that these brands are not niche or luxury products but staples available in supermarkets and neighbourhood kirana stores across the country. Milk, curd and eggs, it noted, are everyday essentials consumed by people of all ages, from morning tea and coffee to regular meals.

While brands like Mother Dairy and Country Delight are relatively newer, Amul, founded in 1948, has been a household name for generations. Trustified suggested that the emotional and historical association people have with such brands makes the findings particularly unsettling.

The report concluded that when quality checks of widely trusted food brands raise red flags, it leaves ordinary consumers questioning the robustness of food safety oversight and accountability in India’s food sector.