"Only premium-quality product dispatched": Milma Chairman denies quality lapse in Sabarimala ghee supply
Thiruvananthapuram, August 3
The Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation on Monday clarified that there was no lapse in the supply of ghee to Sabarimala and asserted that only premium-quality ghee meeting all prescribed standards was supplied.
Milma Chairman K S Mani said the ghee dispatched to Sabarimala underwent stringent quality checks and maintained that the federation has never compromised on the quality or purity of its products.
Addressing a press conference here, Mani said Milma, the dairy cooperative of Kerala's farmers, manufactures ghee and other dairy products using advanced technology while adhering to strict quality and food safety standards.
Milma Managing Director Asif K Yusuf was also present at the press conference.
"The ghee supplied to Sabarimala was packed in fully sealed 15 kg tins, making any alteration or tampering during transit impossible. All Milma dairies follow the same stringent quality protocols," the chairman said.
He said the sealed consignments were received at the Sabarimala godown by the concerned officials of the Travancore Devaswom Board, after which the handling and use of the ghee was outside Milma's control.
Mani further said that Milma has not received any official communication from the Devaswom authorities regarding any issue with the quality of the ghee supplied to Sabarimala. He also confirmed that the federation received full payment for the supplied ghee.
"If Milma ghee were replaced with any spurious or substandard product after delivery, it would amount to a serious offence. Those responsible must be identified and prosecuted under both civil and criminal law," the chairman said.
Citing media reports, Mani said the Travancore Devaswom Board currently has sufficient quantities of ghee received from devotees on a daily basis to meet its requirements and, therefore, does not need to procure additional ghee from outside at present.
He reiterated that consumer trust and the welfare of dairy farmers remain central to Milma's operations, adding that its procurement, production and distribution processes are transparent and subject to strict quality controls.
The chairman also said that the federation remains committed to supporting dairy farmers through welfare initiatives aimed at generating sustainable livelihoods, strengthening Kerala's dairy sector and advancing the state's goal of dairy self-reliance.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a Malayali, I trust Milma products - their quality is consistently good compared to other brands. But this whole episode raises questions about the Devaswom Board's accountability. They received sealed tins but didn't raise any complaint officially? Something seems off. They should have documented everything properly from day one.
The chairman's statement makes sense. If Milma supplied quality ghee and it was received by TDB officials, then any issue after that is not Milma's fault. But let's be honest - in Kerala, these temple-related controversies often get blown out of proportion by media and political parties. Let the investigation happen properly.
I appreciate Milma's transparency here. But the bigger issue is the devotee's trust. When we offer ghee at Sabarimala, we expect it to be pure and sacred. If there's even a hint of adulteration or substitution, it hurts the sentiments of millions. The authorities should conduct a thorough investigation and publish the findings publicly. The TDB should also explain why they didn't report this issue directly to Milma.
Respectfully, but the chairman's statement about "outside Milma's control" is a bit too convenient. If you supply something for temple rituals, shouldn't there be some follow-up or verification process? But on the other hand, Milma has been a reliable brand for decades - it's sad to see them dragged into this controversy. Hopefully, the truth comes out soon.
This seems like a well-managed response from Milma. They've addressed the key concerns - quality checks,
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.