Dear Sir,
Milk adulteration is no longer merely a matter of adding water it has become a technologically advanced form of deception. Previously, adulteration involved substances such as water, urea, detergent, formalin, caustic soda and salt, which were relatively easier to identify through routine quality checks.
However, modern adulteration uses mixtures of refined vegetable oils, whey powder, skimmed milk powder, glucose, maltodextrin, and other ingredients to imitate genuine milk. Although some of these ingredients are legally used in processed dairy products when properly declared, their undisclosed use to replace fresh milk constitutes food fraud and is often difficult to detect using conventional testing methods. As a result, fraudulent products may enter the market while appearing to meet routine quality standards.
The government, therefore, must strengthen its surveillance, and invest in advanced laboratory testing. The dairy industry should embrace greater transparency, traceability, and independent quality verification.
Raisa Mehzabeen
Chief Executive Officer, Nutrition For Change
