Adulterated milk is one of the main topics of discussion. Studies all over the city have revealed that the adulteration levels vary from 5% to 25%.
Substances such as soda bicarbonate (to increase the shelf life of milk), starch (to increase its viscosity), sweetening agents to improve its taste and urea to lend it uniformity are added to make it presentable and acceptable. Stringent actions by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Officials and local police have brought many adulterators to book, but it is not enough.
According to officials, the conversion of milk adulteration into a non-bailable offense has seen a considerable amount of reduction in milk adulteration. Adulterators are now to be produced before a magistrate, have to give a surety and a bond and present themselves in court when summoned. However, the government of Maharashtra has failed to take further steps to stem the flow of adulterated milk in the city.
Most milk packets sold are in plastic pouches which are sealed at both ends by thermal means. FDA officials state that if the sealing is done with a half inch band of plastic at either end, this could reduce the adulteration levels by 50%.
Resealing of milk packets would be very difficult if there was the additional plastic rim. The tampering would then be visible to the naked eye. This suggestion is discarded by the milk dairies on the excuse that the additional plastic will increase packaging costs by a few paise!
Maximum adulteration takes place in packed milk pouches which are left on the street by milk distributors to be picked up by retailers for individual delivery. This deposit is often done between 1 am and 3 am, giving the adulterator time to tamper as milk is delivered after 6.00 am.
Requests to distribute milk after 5.00 am have fallen on deaf ears in the corridors of Mantralaya in the dairy Development Department. A few small steps by can bring relief. But is anybody listening?
