Milk, Lassi Spoil Prematurely in Pune’s Rising Heat

The intense heatwave sweeping across Pune and surrounding regions has started to take a toll on the city’s dairy supply chain, leading to premature spoilage of milk and dairy-based drinks like lassi and buttermilk. According to local traders and distributors, the soaring daytime temperatures, currently hovering above 40°C, are overwhelming cold chain capacities and impacting product shelf life, especially during transportation and retail display.

Milk suppliers have reported a spike in product returns and complaints of souring well before the expiry dates. Street vendors and small retailers are particularly affected, as they often lack adequate refrigeration infrastructure to cope with such extreme heat.

Additionally, demand for cooling beverages like lassi, buttermilk, and flavored milk has surged, putting pressure on local dairies to maintain supply volumes while navigating higher wastage risks. The Pune District Milk Producers Association has appealed to dairies to increase the use of insulated containers and optimize distribution timings to early mornings and late evenings to minimize exposure.

Experts warn that unless immediate cold chain interventions are implemented, this situation could escalate into supply shortages and price hikes, especially as peak summer demand continues to rise.

Industry Insight:
This situation is a wake-up call for urban dairy operators and cooperatives to invest in last-mile cold chain solutions and smarter logistics planning, particularly in climate-vulnerable cities. Seasonal readiness and heat-resilient packaging innovations could become critical competitive advantages.

Source : Dairynews7x7 April 13th 2025 The Times of India