Is your milk safe? Recent reports claim high bacteria in Amul & Mother Dairy pouches. Learn why boiling is vital and if you should switch to Tetra Packs now.
New Delhi: In February 2026 a lab report from Trustified got a lot of attention. This report said that the milk from brands like Amul, Mother Dairy and Country Delight had very high levels of bad bacteria. The levels were so high that they were above what is allowed by the FSSAI. We are talking about milk that people buy every day from these dairy companies.
This is not the time someone has said something like this about Amul. A month before in January 2026 people were talking about problems with Amul’s curd. Now people are really worried about the milk they drink every day.
Dairy companies like Amul, Mother Dairy, and Country Delight promise safe and hygienic products. Consumers trust these brands and bring their milk home believing it is safe for their families.
This report from Trustified is making people think twice about the dairy safety, in India. As of February 12, 2026, the story is still developing, with brands denying the allegations and calls for stricter FSSAI oversight growing louder.
Who Made the Accusations?
The accusations stem from Trustified, an independent laboratory testing program that positions itself as India’s only platform for “100% blind testing” certification. Founded to promote transparency in consumer products, Trustified conducts anonymous tests by collecting samples from retail outlets and sending them to recognized third-party labs without revealing brand identities to avoid bias.
Background on Trustified: They gained prominence with earlier exposes, including a January 2026 report on Amul Masti Dahi (curd), where coliform levels were allegedly 2,100 times above FSSAI limits, alongside 60 times higher yeast and mold counts. This milk controversy builds on that, focusing on pouch variants.
Motivation: Trustified claims their goal is to empower consumers with unbiased data on product safety, highlighting gaps in hygiene and quality control that official regulators might miss.
Testing Process Step-by-Step
The controversy unfolded through a Skilled, blind testing protocol by Trustified, starting in late January/early February 2026. Here’s a breakdown:
Sample Collection: Trustified purchased pouch milk samples (e.g., Amul Taaza, Amul Gold, Mother Dairy Cow Milk, Country Delight) from retail stores in Delhi-NCR and Kanpur. Samples were kept in their original packaging and handled under controlled conditions to mimic real-world consumer scenarios.
Blind Submission to Labs: Samples were coded anonymously and sent to NABL-accredited labs for microbiological analysis. Tests focused on coliform bacteria (indicators of fecal contamination or poor hygiene) and Total Plate Count (TPC) (measuring overall bacterial load).
Results Release: On February 10, 2026, Trustified shared the findings via a viral video on Instagram and YouTube, showing lab reports with elevated levels. The video quickly amassed millions of views, fueling social media discussions.
Key Findings in Detail:
| Brand/Product | Coliform (CFU/ml) | TPC (CFU/ml) | FSSAI Limit (Coliform) | FSSAI Limit (TPC) | Exceedance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amul Taaza (Pouch) | 980 | Not specified | ≤ 10 | Not specified | 98× (Coliform) |
| Amul Gold (Pouch) | 25 | Not specified | ≤ 10 | Not specified | 2.5× (Coliform) |
| Mother Dairy Cow Milk (Pouch) | Not specified | ~240,000 | ≤ 10 | ≤ 30,000 | 8× (TPC) |
| Country Delight (Pouch) | Not specified | High | ≤ 10 | ≤ 30,000 | Exceeded |
| Amul Tetra Pack (UHT) | 0 | 0 | ≤ 10 | Not specified | Passed |
Why It Happened?
Experts quality the high bacteria levels not necessarily to manufacturing defects but to systemic issues in India’s dairy supply chain.
Breakage in the cold chain: Pasteurized pouch milk needs to be kept constantly cold (below 4-5°C). If there are temperature fluctuations during transportation, storage by wholesale vendors, or retail display, bacteria can multiply after pasteurization.
Post-production contamination: Poor hygiene during packaging or distribution stages, such as dirty equipment or contact with contaminants (like feces from water/soil), can lead to coliforms.
Widespread industry challenges: India’s dairy sector faces risks of adulteration (such as bacterial growth due to water addition) and inconsistent compliance with standards, as seen in recent FSSAI raids on fake milk.
Not inherent in the brands: Amul and others argue that the problems arise downstream, not in their plants, where milk is initially pasteurized to kill bacteria.
Coliform itself is not always harmful, but it indicates the possible presence of pathogens like E. coli, which can cause health issues such as diarrhea or infections.
Amul’s Team Response: Denial and Defense
Amul (Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation – GCMMF) responded promptly and effectively, dismissing Trustified’s report as ‘misleading’ and ‘fear-mongering.’ They elaborated as follows:
Official statement: “Our products undergo more than 50 rigorous quality checks and fully comply with FSSAI standards. These claims are baseless and are likely due to errors in sample collection, handling, or testing methodology.”
Responsibility for external factors: Amul attributed potential disruptions in the cold chain to distributors or retail levels, not to their manufacturing. They emphasized that pouch milk is pasteurized but can be sensitive if not stored properly.
Call for verification: They urged an independent retest and accused the report of being sensational, citing a similar denial regarding the January curd controversy.
Public Assurance: Amul highlighted its legacy of cleanliness and invited consumers to visit the plant, while dismissing criticism on social media as unfounded.
Health Risks, Boiling Advice, and Alternatives
High coliform levels indicate poor hygiene, which increases the risk of digestive problems, especially for vulnerable groups. Boiling pouch milk for 2-5 minutes kills most bacteria but does not remove chemicals. Choose UHT/Tetra Pak milk (which does not need boiling) or certified open milk from reliable sources (still boil before use).
