Milk is a staple in most Indian households and is consumed by people of all ages for its nutritional value. So, imagine the shock people in Maharashtra must have felt when news flashed that more than 2.3 crore litres of adulterated milk may have been supplied across Maharashtra in the past six months. As authorities continue to investigate the alleged scam, here’s how you can identify milk adulteration and stay safe.
Maharashtra’s 2.3 Cr Litre Synthetic Milk Scam Raises Alarm
According to NDTV, an investigation by the police and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into an alleged milk adulteration racket in Maharashtra’s Bhoom taluka, Dharashiv district, found that over 2.3 crore litres of adulterated milk may have been supplied across the state in the past six months.
Investigators found that the accused mixed 10 litres of synthetic milk with every 100 litres of pure milk before distributing it from milk collection centres in the Bhoom area. The synthetic milk was allegedly made using detergent powder, palm oil, and low-quality chemical powder to resemble real milk.
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How To Identify Adulterated Milk
According to the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, here are two quick tests that can help you identify milk adulteration at home.
To check if your milk has high levels of water content, here’s what you need to do:
1. Put a drop of milk on a polished, slanted surface.
2. If your milk is pure, it will either not move or move very slowly and leave a white trail.
3. If it has a high level of water content, it will flow immediately without any trace.
To check if your milk has detergent in it, do the following test:
1. Take 5-10 ml of milk with an equal amount of water in a glass.
2. Shake the contents well.
3. If the milk forms a thick, dense lather when shaken, it may be adulterated with detergent.
4. A thin layer of foam is normal and is usually caused by shaking the milk.
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We hope this information was helpful to you all.
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FAQs
What is milk adulteration?
Milk adulteration is the practice of adding harmful substances or diluting milk with water and chemicals to increase quantity or alter its appearance, compromising its quality and safety.
How can I identify detergent in milk?
Shake the milk in a bottle. If it forms a thick, dense lather that lasts for a while, it may contain detergent. A thin layer of foam after shaking is normal.
Can boiling milk remove adulterants?
No. Boiling kills certain microorganisms but does not remove chemical adulterants such as detergent, starch, urea, or synthetic additives.