Milk adulteration in India: Simple home tests to stay safe | Fusion - WeRIndia

Milk is a daily staple in Indian households. However, concerns over adulteration continue to rise.

Reports suggest that nearly 68.7 per cent of milk in India fails to meet safety standards.

Although India became the world’s largest milk producer after the White Revolution, quality remains a serious issue.

Milk is rich in calcium, protein, vitamins, and essential fatty acids. Therefore, it plays a vital role in human nutrition.

Yet, its high demand and vast market make it vulnerable to manipulation. Adulteration often increases during festive seasons. However, it remains profitable throughout the year.

Unscrupulous suppliers add substances to increase volume or improve texture. Common adulterants include water, sugar, salt, and urea.

In some cases, detergent and vegetable oil are added to emulsify non-milk fats. As a result, the nutritional value declines sharply.

Moreover, contaminated milk can harm vital organs and may even cause life-threatening diseases.

Health experts warn that prolonged consumption of adulterated milk may increase the risk of severe illnesses. Therefore, awareness becomes crucial.

While regulatory bodies like the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India continue surveillance, consumers must also stay vigilant.

Here are simple home tests to detect common adulterants:

Water Test
Place a drop of milk on a polished, slanting surface. Pure milk flows slowly and leaves a white trail. In contrast, diluted milk flows quickly without leaving a mark.

Urea Test
Take one teaspoon of milk in a test tube. Add half a teaspoon of soybean or arhar powder and shake well. After five minutes, dip red litmus paper into the mixture. If it turns blue, urea is present.

Detergent Test
Shake 5–10 ml of milk with an equal amount of water. If thick lather forms, detergent may be mixed in.

Synthetic Milk Check
Rub milk between your fingers. A soapy feel and bitter aftertaste indicate synthetic milk. Additionally, it may turn yellowish when heated.

Starch Test
Add a few drops of iodine solution to milk. A blue colour suggests starch adulteration.

Milk remains an affordable and valuable protein source. Nevertheless, rising adulteration demands caution.

By performing these quick tests at home, consumers can better protect their health and ensure safer consumption.

Image from Pxhere (Free for commercial use / CC0 Public Domain)

Image Published on January 26, 2017

Image Reference: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/548413