By IANS,
Kochi : The Kerala High Court Monday directed MILMA, a state-owned dairy cooperative, to remove the words “fresh and pure” from its products’ packets which contained milk supplemented with milk powder.
A division bench headed by Justice S. Siri Jagan gave Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation, popularly known as MILMA, a week’s time to report back next Monday on the action taken.
While hearing a public interest litigation alleging cheating of consumers, the court said the words “fresh and pure” on the milk packets were misleading as the manufacturer was adding milk powder to the product.
The federation was formed in 1980 as a state adjunct of the National Dairy Programme ‘Operation Flood’.
It is a three-tier organisation. At the grassroots level, MILMA had 3,059 Anand model primary milk co-operative societies as on 31.03.2012 with 8.6 lakh local milk producing farmers as members.
These primary societies are grouped under three Regional Co-operative Milk Producers’ Unions.
MILMA produces and distributes pasteurized Vitamin A-enriched milk and various milk-based products as well as mango drink throughout the state.
MILMA has been instrumental in achieving the national goal of self-sufficiency in milk production in the state.