Milk outlet sealed after quality test

LAHORE
MILK and milk products of a big local milk brand, which has established branches in various city areas, have failed final quality test resulting in complete sealing of its outlet in the Township area here Tuesday.
The operation was carried out by Punjab Food Authority’s (PFA) Allama Iqbal Town team, which raided the main branch of Alfazal Milk Shop in Township soon after the authority received the report of public analyst regarding the samples.
It is pertinent to mention here that the same milk shop was thrice raided in past and was given strict warning to improve the standard of milk as well as hygienic conditions of the premises. Officials said Tuesday they once again found substandard milk, poor hygiene, uncovered food items and dirty walls.
They said raids were conducted on other milk shops in the area and Baba Ge Kulfi Walye, Hajveri Milk Shop, Data Hajveri Milk Shop and Allah Tawakal Milk Shop were also sealed due to substandard milk and rejection of their milk samples by public analyst. When it comes to milk, majority of citizens didn’t know what they are purchasing from such milk shops is highly unhygienic and chemically contaminated milk, which is seriously affecting their health, said a senior official of PFA.
Sources claimed that formalin, a very dangerous chemical was often found in the milk while initial testing of milk at entry points of the city. According to official statistics, daily consumption of milk in Lahore in summer season is around 1.8 million litre and major portion of the demand is fulfilled by loose milk.
PFA officials said that chemicals like formalin, urea, caustic soda, refined oil especially the used and cheap cooking oil and commonly used detergents are mixed in the milk to increase its shelf life as well as to remove the traces of adulteration and mixing of hazardous chemicals.
They claimed that sewerage water as well as untreated tap water is also mixed in the milk to increase its quantity and detergents are added to emulsify and dissolve the oil in water, giving the frothy solution the characteristic white colour of milk. Refined oil is used as a substitute for milk fat. Caustic soda is added in the milk to neutralise the effect of increased acidity, thereby preventing it from turning sour during transport. Urea/sugar is added for levelling the contents of solid-not-fat (SNF) as are present in the natural milk.
A senior PFA official, seeking anonymity said a mafia is involved in preparing milk using different chemicals in and around the city. This kind of milk, worldwide, is known as ‘chemical milk’ or ‘synthetic milk’. He said use of chemical or synthetic milk had been found to have cancerous effect on human beings. ‘Urea and caustic soda are very harmful to the heart, liver and kidneys,’ said senior doctors, adding presence of urea overburdens the kidneys while caustic soda, which contains sodium, acts as a slow poison for those suffering from hypertension and heart ailments. Doctors said that caustic soda deprives the body from utilising Lysine, an essential amino acid in milk, which is required by growing babies. Such artificial milk is harmful for all, but is more dangerous for pregnant women, fetus and persons who are already having heart and kidneys problems.
Data collected from PFA, milk and milk products remained on top of among the adulterated edibles list in the provincial capital as 60.3 percent of milk samples during the year 2014 while during the first three months of the present year about 25 percent milk samples failed the hygiene standards tests.
According to data, a total of 4,500 samples of milk were collected in the year 2014, out of which 2,717 (60.3 percent) failed while during the first three months of the year 2015, a total of 1,641 samples were taken, out of which, 403 (25 percent) were declared adulterated and against the health standards. Director General PFA Dr Nasir Mehmood admitted at a press conference that sewer water and different chemicals, including formalin, urea and caustic soda were being mixed in milk.
Spokesperson of PFA said a very vigorous drive had already been launched against this hazardous and chemical milk in the city. She said checking of milk carrying vans entering Lahore had been made a daily practice at Saggiyan Bridge, Kahna and Qainchi on Ferozpur Road, GT Road, Gulberg, Naseerabad, Samanabad, Thokar and Multan Road.