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Milk Adulteration

It is sad to note that most Indians are resigned to drinking milk diluted with water which not only reduces the nutritious value of the beverage but also poses risk to health. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit says: We have a huge challenge before us. We need more laboratories to test milk. India being largely a vegetarian society relies on milk rather than meat for its nutritional needs. A glass (250ml) of unadulterated whole milk will give around 146 kcals; 8gms of fat and protein with 257mg of calcium. Calcium and other vitamins and minerals in milk make it an important part of a healthful diet for people of all ages. The benefits of drinking milk include strengthening bones, improved cardiovascular and oral healthand even relief from PMS. Adulterants used in Milk:

Milk is most commonly diluted with water - this not only reduces its nutritional value, but contaminated water can also cause additional health problems. The other adulterants used are mainly starch, sodium hydroxide (caustic soda), sugar, urea, hydrated lime, sodium carbonate, formalin, and ammonium sulfate.

The Indian Council of Medical Research has reported that milk adulterants have hazardous health effects. The detergent in milk can cause food poisoning and other gastrointestinal complications. Its high alkaline level can also damage body tissue and destroy proteins. Other synthetic components can cause impairments, heart problems, cancer or even death. While the immediate effect of drinking milk adulterated with urea, caustic soda and formalin is gastroenteritis, the long-term effects are far more serious.

Urea can lead to vomiting, nausea and gastritis. Urea is particularly harmful for the kidneys, and caustic soda can be dangerous for people suffering from hypertension and heart ailments.

Formalin can cause more severe damage to the body like liver damage. The health impact of drinking milk adulterated with these chemicals is worse for children. Caustic soda harms the mucosa of the food pipe, especially in kids. The chemical which contains sodium, can act as slow poison for those suffering from hypertension and heart ailments.

To avoid these dangers, it is best to buy milk from a renowned source. For those who can, buying milk sold by reputed companies in tetra packs is also a good option.

ID #1003

What are the various milk adulterations in Pakistan today?


The mildest form of milk adulteration is water. But the unfortunate thing is that the Gawalas tend to mix muddy water rather than clean tap water in order to raise its density and keep milk thicker. The second most common adulteration is Urea. Urea is used to utilize its endothermic reaction when mixed with milk. As a result milk remains rather cool during long haul journeys of big milk tankers and 'spoilage' is avoided. The third most common adulteration is alkali in its various forms, the commonest being Caustic Soda. The function of Caustic Soda is to raise the pH of the milk and either to reverse or avoid 'milk spoilage'. The other forms of adulterations are the use of Grease, Coconut Oil, Cotton Seed Oil and other Cheap Oils to raise the fat content, Whey Powder and cheap Imported milk powder to make milk de novo. Various antibiotics are also used to inhibit the growth of bacteria and reduce the production of weak organic acids.

There is immediate need of Milk adulteration/prevention legislation, as it is gaining momentum in Pakistan like other South Asian countries to ensure provision of pure milk to general public. Talking to a select group of reporters here on Saturday, Rashid Javed, Country Director Plan Pakistan, an NGO, said that the government's negligence towards the health sector can be judged with the fact that not even a single step has been taken so far to implement the milk anti-adulteration laws. He said that keeping in view the health perils being faced by over 180 million Pakistanis due to widespread and ever increasing milk adulteration, establishment of Milk

adulteration prevention legislation framework a must to ensure provision of pure milk to the citizens. Plan Pakistan, a non-government organisation, has initiated a milk anti-adulteration campaign for which a policy draft has been prepared for the adoption of the Government of Punjab. The first milk adulteration is to mix muddy water rather than clean tap water in milk to raise its density and keep it thicker. The second most common adulteration is Urea. As a result milk remains rather cool during long haul journeys of big milk tankers and 'spoilage' is avoided. The third most common adulteration is alkali or Caustic Soda to raise the pH of the milk. The other forms of adulterations are the use of Grease, Coconut Oil, Cotton Seed Oil and other Cheap Oils to raise the fat content, he said. Sharing data, he disclosed that the adulteration of milk with harmful substances is a threat to public health and beyond question a serious crime. Pakistan produced almost 17 billion liters of milk, while its consumption was 38 billion liters of milk, mixing various chemicals to bridge the demand/supply gap. Shedding light on economic benefits, he added that the Modernisation in milk collection, handling and marketing will address all the key weaknesses in the milk business. The conversion of the informal dairy sector to a modernised, regulated formal sector will attract a lot of local and foreign investment, which may have a multiplier effect for the local and national economy. As an added advantage, consumers and international buyers' confidence will be restored and will ultimately result in increasing dairy sector exports. The adoption of the milk anti-adulteration policy will ensure increase investment in the sector and will create additional spillover of economic activity in terms of promotion of local manufacturing of dairy equipment and machinery, resulting in increased labour demand.

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