Shocking! More than 68% of milk adulterated in India; contains detergent, caustic soda

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Have you ever thought that milk, which is considered to be essential for body growth can actually harm our own health? This information might come as a shocking news to all of us as it is reported that over 68% of milk found in the country is adulterated.

Reports suggest that the milk we consume does not conform to the standards laid down by the food regulator.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday informed that the most common adulterant found in the milk are detergent, caustic soda, glucose, white paint and refined oil. These items are often considered very hazardous and could cause serious ailments.

Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan said during Question Hour that a new scanner has been developed which can detect adulteration in milk in 40 seconds and can even pinpoint the adulterant.

Earlier, for every type of adulteration, a separate chemical test was required. But now a single scanner can do the job, he said.

There were murmurs among members when the minister suggested that these scanners could be purchased by MPs through their constituency funds.

Though the scanners are costly as of now, each test costs a mere 10 paisa, he said.

Vardhan said in the near future, GPS-based technology could be used to track the exact location where the milk supplied in the cold chain has been tampered with.

There are two lakh villages in the country from where milk is collected.  

(With PTI Inputs)