Butter and milk powder mix sold as ‘milk’ to Aavin, one suspended

People who don’t have cows have been selling ‘milk’ to cooperative societies by mixing butter with milk powder, that too with the help of some insiders. In the latest instance, Aavin has suspended a driver on Chennai’s outskirts in connection with the adulteration which has been going on for at least a month. Following complaints about the quality from milk processed at Kakkalur plant in Tiruvallur, the Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation (TNCMPF), which manufactures Aavin products, alerted the internal vigilance team to carry out raids.

Based on a tip-off, the vigilance team found out that a man named Dayalan was supplying substandard milk. Further probe revealed that Dayalan was a fake name and P D Rajkumar, a driver, was using this name to conceal his identity. He stole skimmed milk powder and butter from Aavin, mixed it with water at his residence in GK Kandigai near Tiruttani and supplied the adulterated milk to the nearest collection centre (cooperative society).

Around 140kg of butter, 175kg milk powder, one cream separator, mixing accessories and empty Aavin bags were recovered from Rajkumar’s residence, according to a suspension letter issued by TNCMPF general manager G Rameshkumar.

Such adulterated milk will affect the overall processing quality and final dairy products sold to customers. Lactometers and other testing equipment at Madhavaram processing unit confirmed large-scale adulteration. Notably, this is the fourth Aavin official to be suspended this year in connection with adulteration complaints.

“Instead of filing a police case or taking strict action, the Aavin management has decided to either suspend and transfer or just issue namesake show-cause notice,” said S A Ponnusamy from Tamil Nadu Milk Dealers’ Welfare Association.

He also said that if Aavin is serious about addressing quality concerns, it should remove such tainted staff.