Think twice before drinking milk supplied by milkmen!

Hazardous chemicals being mixed for preservation and higher profits

Rawalpindi

It is a shocking phenomenon that milk mafia is not only mixing ice and water but washing powder, soap, formalin, hair removing powder and urea in milk and playing with people's lives. Those who drink this adulterated milk are likely to suffer from typhoid, diarrhoea, gastroenteritis, brucellosis, allergies and even cancer, thanks to authorities for giving a free hand to the milkmen.

Formalin, a dangerous chemical, is commonly used in milk. Other chemicals like urea, caustic soda, refined oil, especially rancid oil and cheap cooking oil, and detergents are also mixed in milk to increase its shelf life as well as to remove traces of adulteration and mixing of hazardous chemicals. 

A senior veterinary officer of the Punjab Livestock and Dairy Department, Dr. Tasneem Ahmed, told ‘The News’ that powerful mafia was playing with the lives of people. He admitted that milkmen were mixing dangerous things like hair removing powder, washing powder, soap, formalin and urea in milk to increase its viscosity. He said that milkmen were also selling milk of sick animals which was strictly banned for consumption. “We use different kinds of medicines during treatment of an animal. These medicines are dangerous for human health, therefore, milkmen could not sell milk of sick animals, but they are not obeying this law and playing with people's lives,” he claimed. This is the major reason why people, particularly children, suffer from diarrhoea and stomach diseases after consuming such milk,” he added.

‘The News’ has learnt that there are several dairy farms at Girja Road, Tarnol, Soan, Rawat, Kalar Road, Adiala Road and Chakri where milkmen mix dangerous things in milk. Adulterated milk is also coming from Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin.

District Food Inspector (DFI) Muhammad Rashid Butt admitted all facts and figures and said that they have registered 84 FIRs under Sections 269, 270, 272 and 273 against milkmen for supplying adulterated milk. “We have also destroyed 900,000 drums of adulterated milk in different localities of Rawalpindi,” he added. But, it was fruitless because milkmen were released on bail after two or three days. Although, there is 6 months imprisonment for adulteration, but they are released early, he claimed.

He said that milkmen also use a dangerous chemical, which is used to keep the dead bodies fresh. “The milkmen use this dangerous chemical to keep milk fresh for days, he said. He said "We have mobile laboratories and registering FIRs after adulteration in milk is proved. He said that they also face pressure from higher authorities who stop them for taking action against milkmen. “We are taking action on the directions of Punjab Food Authority (PFA),” he said.

The food inspector claimed that several milkmen mix untreated tap water in milk to increase its quantity. He said detergents are added to emulsify and dissolve oil in water, giving the frothy solution the characteristic of white colour. He said refined and rancid oil is used as a substitute for milk fat. Caustic soda is mixed in the milk to neutralise the effect of increased acidity, thereby preventing it from turning sour during transport. Urea/sugar is mixed for levelling the contents of solid-not-fat (SNF) as are present in the natural milk, he claimed.

On the other hand, the local milkmen, milk suppliers and sellers have termed Punjab Food Authority a 'barbaric organisation'. They said the PFA is determined to end the loose milk supply business in the city . They said the authority’s daily checking should be halted immediately.