Rumours of poison in Nandini milk triggered panic in the coastal district on Monday. People woke up to phone calls from friends and relatives and news on the television that their milk was poisoned.
Initially rumours spread via SMSes that some people had died and a few more were hospitalised after consuming Nandini milk in various parts of Dakshina Kannada.
Many children were reported affected in Ullal, Bengre, Mulki, Moodbidri and other places.
‘No truth’
Dakshina Kannada Co-operative Milk Union Ltd (DKMUL) president Raviraj Hegde said there was no truth in rumours about milk poisoning and no deaths were reported.
Speaking to mediapersons, he said DKMUL, which produces Nandini milk at its unit in Kulshekhar in Mangalore, had tested and ensured that no contaminated elements were present in Nandini milk packets.
“The rumour is spread by a few anti-social elements who wish to cause unrest in society. Nobody has died or fallen ill in the district after consuming the milk. The milk and milk products produced at DKMUL unit have undergone quality tests and no poisonous substance is detected,” he said.
Hegde said it was for the first time in the last 25 years since DKMUL came into existence that such a rumour was spread. The DKMUL has supplied 3.33 lakh litres of milk on the eve of Eid and no consumers have complained of any illness.
“Consumers and dealers are now apprehensive about the quality of the milk because of rumours. But I would like to ensure that it is safe to use Nandini milk,” Hegde said.
Hegde and DKMUL Board of Directors consumed the milk from the packet manufactured on August 19, before the media, as a gesture to assure consumers about the quality of milk.
Police investigation
City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the police have started tracing the source of the rumour.
“We are after the mobile numbers from which SMSes were sent spreading the rumour. We are hopeful of catching the culprits within a day or two,” he said.