The Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation Limited (GCMMF), popularly known as Amul Federation, has set up an advanced organic testing laboratory at Amul Fed Dairy, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The lab was inaugurated by Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, on 21st May 2023.
The laboratories will verify whether food items labeled ‘organic’ are produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals. This is the first dedicated lab by Amul for organic testing and supporting organic producers.
With the increasing demand for organic food products in India, there is a growing need for advanced laboratories dedicated to organic food testing. Organic food is produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals. To meet these demands, an advanced laboratory for organic food testing plays a crucial role in verifying the organic integrity of food items.
According to a statement issued by Amul, the laboratory employs various testing methodologies and techniques to detect the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, and other contaminants. It ensures that organic food products adhere to national and international organic standards, enhancing consumer confidence and protecting public health.
Organic testing laboratories play a pivotal role in building trust by providing reliable testing results and ensuring that organic claims are backed by scientific evidence. It supports the market demand for organic produce, benefiting both farmers and the industry as a whole, said GCMMF.
Amul has already ventured into the organic business in May 2022 with the launch of Amul organic atta and now has expanded its organic product portfolio to include items such as basmati rice, chana dal, masoor dal, moong, rajma, besan, kabuli and chana. Some other organic products are also planned for the future.
The latest advanced equipment installed at the new organic testing lab at Amul includes a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer (LC-MS), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS), and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), said GCMMF managing director Jayen Mehta.
The equipment will help identify and quantify organic compounds in food samples. They can detect pesticides, herbicides, and other organic contaminants, determine trace elements and heavy metals in food samples and also detect mycotoxins, additives, and preservatives. Amul aims to provide organic testing results meeting international standards to organic farmers and industry players at an affordable price.
