Fake Milk Industry Evolves as Counterfeit Dairy Surges

India’s dairy sector is facing a growing challenge from counterfeit and adulterated products as fraudsters increasingly target high-volume dairy categories such as milk, ghee, khoya, paneer, and cheese. According to the ASPA-CRISIL State of Counterfeiting in India report, reported counterfeiting incidents across India increased 2.5 times to 187 cases in 2025 compared with 2018, with dairy emerging as one of the most affected sectors.

Industry experts attribute the rise to India’s vast unorganized dairy market, fragmented supply chains, and the difficulty of monitoring products that move through multiple intermediaries before reaching consumers. Counterfeit dairy products are typically sold at prices around 19% lower than genuine products, making them attractive to unsuspecting buyers.

Recent enforcement actions have highlighted the scale of the problem, including the seizure of more than 6,500 litres of suspected counterfeit ghee in Delhi and Haryana and multiple crackdowns on adulterated milk and dairy products across the country. Regulators are responding with stricter oversight, including licensing requirements for independent milk vendors and increased focus on traceability and supply-chain monitoring. Industry stakeholders are also exploring technologies such as QR codes, blockchain-based tracking systems, and advanced authentication solutions to curb fraud and protect consumer trust in India’s dairy sector. (mint)

Source: Dairynews7x7 23 June, 2026 Read full story here

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