Ensuring milk purity: Tips to detect and prevent milk adulteration

Milk adulteration is a big problem in today’s day and age. While milk is essential to every Indian household, consuming contaminated milk is a concern. In this article, we state how milk is commonly adulterated, how to detect it and also the steps to prevent this practice. Take a look.

What is milk adulteration?

Milk adulteration refers to the mixture of external components into pure dairy milk before it is sold to the customers. It is different from milk contamination, which is involuntary, and mainly happens due to unhygienic practices. Adulteration of milk is a voluntary and intentional practice where the milkmen, milk distributors and/or delivery personnel mix external products in the milk. This is done to increase the quantity of saleable milk and increase profits.

How to detect milk adulteration?

There are several ways in which you can detect adulteration in milk. To understand this well, you first need to know the substance with which the milk has been adulterated:

Water

Water is commonly used in milk to increase the quantity. Take a drop of milk on a slanted surface. If it rolls down very quickly, then in all probability, it has been watered down.

Urea

Urea is a serious adulterant as it damages the human kidney. To check, add some soybean powder to the milk sample and mix. Then insert a litmus paper. If it turns blue, urea’s presence can be determined.

Detergent

Detergent is another harmful chemical used to adulterate milk. Take some milk in a container and shake it vigorously. If it turns foamy, you will know it has detergent.

Starch

An easy way to check if milk has starch in it is to add some iodine to it. If you see the colour changing to a light pink shade, you can assert the presence of starch.

Ways to prevent milk adulteration

Even though the practice of milk adulteration is so widespread, some measures have to be taken to prevent it, as the adulteration causes serious health problems. Here are some feasible options:

Implementation of strict laws

The government should implement very strong laws against those who engage in milk adulteration. This is the first and most important step to prevent this menace. There must be regular checks and raids to ensure the laws are being enforced.

Working with the unions

The authorities and representatives of the general public must work with the milk union leaders and workers to ensure this practice is eliminated from the grassroots level. Proper training, along with reward systems, can help prevent milk adulteration at the basic level.

Stress on proper packaging

As a customer, you can adopt some practices like only buying tamper-proof milk packages such as tetra packs or sealed glass bottles. Do not get loose milk from local vendors as such milk is most likely to be adulterated unless you personally know the milkman and can completely trust him.

The bottom line

Keep all the points mentioned above in mind and be careful about the milk you consume. Try getting milk from a reliable source and keep yourself and your family safe.