How milk lost its whiteness to adulterers in Haryana

A seat of white revolution where milk even flowed out of folk songs has now attained the image, synonymous with adulteration. About thirty percent samples have failed in the tests as unscrupulous vendors are resorting to adulteration to the level of adding detergents and urea to milk.

ONCE UPON a time, Haryana was known as land of milk and curd. Its Murrah buffalo was known all over the world for quality and quantity of milk. Milk and curd were available in plenty and there was no question of adulteration. But now the situation has changed. According to official sources about thirty percent milk samples had failed during the tests in the state. Besides, twelve percent samples of other foodstuffs had also failed during tests in the state.

With decline of cows and buffaloes and increase in demand of milk, unscrupulous milk vendors are resorting to adulteration. Adulteration by water can be tolerated to some extent but shockingly toxic chemicals like detergents are even added to milk. A recent study conducted by Food Safety Standards Authority of India across the country has come with startling revelations that milk was adulterated with detergents, fat and even urea. Use of detergents in milk can create serious health problems for the user.

Union Health Ministry is planning to introduce E.Coli test as a mandatory for milk producers to detect harmful bacteria. Union Health Minister, Gulam Nabi Azad has asked state governments to increase their surveillance on food items and stop the menace of food adulteration seriously. Inspections should be increased to check presence of harmful chemicals, especially in milk. Worried over the trend the authorities have started a crackdown to check adulteration of milk and other food items in the state.
Haryana State Drug Controller cum Joint Commissioner, Food and Drug administration, Dr. G L Singal has given stern warning to dealers of milk and milk products, asking them not to play with the health of the people for their petty benefits.Dr. Singal said that adulteration in the foodstuffs was a serious crime. Giving a stern warning to the dealers of milk and milk products, he said that they should not play with the health of the people for their petty benefits. Milk and milk products were largely found adulterated in the state. They should not use colours other than ISI mark colours in sweets. The Dhaba owners should not add colours to the vegetables. Strict actions would be taken against those found violating these instructions. Sale of open chili and turmeric powder and other spices had been banned under new Food Safety Standard Act. Refined oils could also be sold only in packing.

It was mandatory to print manufacturing date, expiry date, quantity and name of manufacturer of the product on the box. If any shopkeeper was found selling open products and sample was taken of the products, the responsibility of the failure would be of the shopkeeper concerned and in case of packed products, the responsibility would be of the manufacturing firm, he added.