Considering the times we live in and the importance being placed on food safety, it is high time we become cautious about what we consume, especially something as integral to our diet as milk. The recent survey conducted by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India threw up some startling facts.
The study showed that adulteration of milk is rampant across the country, with as much as 70 percent of milk samples tested by the authorities failing to conform to standards.
In a country such as ours, which has a strong tradition of milk consumption, it is shocking that substances like glucose, urea, skim milk powder (SMP) and detergent are added to milk to increase its volume. You can imagine the ill effects this could have on your children, your family and you.
In spite of this, the number of people who consume loose milk is alarming. A large percentage of people across India still prefer consuming unpacked milk thinking it is fresh.
Consumers need to be cautious of the fact that loose milk has the maximum potential for contamination as it is handled manually and high standards of quality are not maintained by those selling it, especially given that it doesn't fall under the ambit of any regulatory control.
Boiling milk has long been considered the best way to remove bacteria. However, by doing so we also kill good bacteria present in the milk and reduce nutritional value.
The recent study on milk boiling habits conducted by the Indian Medical Academy (IMA) showed that boiling milk at home was causing nutrients to evaporate, thereby reducing its nutritional value.
The best alternative is to opt for milk processed with the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) technology as it is the safest and most reliable option.
In UHT technology, milk is heated at a very high temperature (135- 150 degrees C) in sterile conditions for a few seconds, then force-cooled to room temperature. This process removes all microorganisms from milk including dormant spores, which is not possible through pasteurisation.
At the same time, because the heating period is so brief, it retains nutrients and flavour. Packaged milk is preservative- free and assures consumers of fresh, high quality milk without the hassle of refrigeration and with easier transportation and convenient storage. It helps retain the characteristics of fresh milk for a longer period of time.
So, to choose health, choose packaged milk!
In a country such as ours, which has a strong tradition of milk consumption, it is shocking that substances like glucose, urea, skim milk powder (SMP) and detergent are added to milk to increase its volume. You can imagine the ill effects this could have on your children, your family and you.
In spite of this, the number of people who consume loose milk is alarming. A large percentage of people across India still prefer consuming unpacked milk thinking it is fresh.
Consumers need to be cautious of the fact that loose milk has the maximum potential for contamination as it is handled manually and high standards of quality are not maintained by those selling it, especially given that it doesn't fall under the ambit of any regulatory control.
Boiling milk has long been considered the best way to remove bacteria. However, by doing so we also kill good bacteria present in the milk and reduce nutritional value.
The recent study on milk boiling habits conducted by the Indian Medical Academy (IMA) showed that boiling milk at home was causing nutrients to evaporate, thereby reducing its nutritional value.
The best alternative is to opt for milk processed with the Ultra High Temperature (UHT) technology as it is the safest and most reliable option.
In UHT technology, milk is heated at a very high temperature (135- 150 degrees C) in sterile conditions for a few seconds, then force-cooled to room temperature. This process removes all microorganisms from milk including dormant spores, which is not possible through pasteurisation.
At the same time, because the heating period is so brief, it retains nutrients and flavour. Packaged milk is preservative- free and assures consumers of fresh, high quality milk without the hassle of refrigeration and with easier transportation and convenient storage. It helps retain the characteristics of fresh milk for a longer period of time.
So, to choose health, choose packaged milk!
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