For its brand reputation and trust of the consumer, the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) commenced a fight against misinformation in order to dispel rumor-making. On 18 February 2026, the federation responded to false news claiming its beloved Nandini products were unsafe using social media and the internet, officially rejecting the viral claims on the premises on February 18, 2026 stating that its beloved Nandini products are 100% safe and conforming to the international standards.
False claims and KMF's response towards them
The controversy is set off by the sharing of a clip of Dr. Sharanya Santhosh on Instagram and WhatsApp. In the film, she supposedly stated that consuming KMF products could cause cancer. “These allegations were baseless and malicious; these are pure rubbish,” said B. Shivaswamy, Managing Director of KMF. Speaking to the press, he said:
“These are total lies. We produce KMF products using natural processes and adhere to the safety and quality standards defined by the FSSAI. Our production line uses no harmful chemicals."
PUBLIC NOTICE
— KMF Nandini (@kmfnandinimilk) February 16, 2026
It has come to our attention that baseless and false allegations have been made against few Nandini products using Instagram & other social media platforms projecting Nandini products as unsafe for consumption which is causing unnecessary panic and confusion among… pic.twitter.com/ALB3PxvX56
Criminal Charges and Legal proceedings
KMF has taken such concern seriously bringing an official criminal case against Dr. Sharanya Santhosh for misinformation, and caused unnecessary panic amongst millions of consumers. Shivaswamy stressed that KMF will not put up with anything that would cause damage to the “pride of Karnataka.” “We have taken legal action. It is an intentional attempt to mislead the public, and we will take stringent action to prevent this from happening again,” he said.
Health Department: Safe All Products
The Department of Food Safety and Quality ran a robust series of experiments on some KMF products in response to the viral rumors. The official announcement, made to the public this week, is that the products Mysore Pak, Milk Peda, Paneer, and Vanilla Milkshake are absolutely safe to use. Findings from the Department of Health are as follows:
No Contamination: No substances of concern or carcinogens were detected. FSSAI compliance is met at every level from village procurement to final packaging. The substances are checked for purity, safety and purity by natural ingredients only. KMF (Nandini), one of India’s largest and most trusted dairy cooperatives and now also has a footprint in international markets, is a company from Karnataka and Nandini with a well-structured distribution base.
MD Shivaswamy closes his address by talking to consumers:
“Nandini has been a household name for decades. Our products come from the labor of lakhs of farmers. Do not be seduced by unverified social media claims. We'll tell you our products are 100% safe for you and your family."
