Factory making 1800+ liters of milk daily with detergent and urea fertilizer busted in Gujarat: 6 smart ways to check milk purity at home

While milk is often seen through the lens of nutrition as a rich source of calcium and other nutrients, the market reality speaks something else. If we go by reports, the market is flooded with adulterated milk, which is not just unhealthy and highly risky for human health. In the most recent update, on February 8, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) confirmed that a unit in Sabarkantha district of Gujarat was raided and the team of Sabarkantha Local Crime Branch (LCB) officials busted a factory making synthetic milk for nearly 5 years using a mix of chemicals. According to a TOI report, workers at the unit mixed a range of substances including detergent powder, urea fertiliser, caustic soda, refined palm oil and refined soybean oil, whey powder, skimmed milk powder, and premium SMP powder. The report also states that the factory used only about 300 litres of real milk to produce nearly 1,700 to 1,800 litres of imitation milk every day by adding these chemicals and powders. The mixture was then packed in pouches and distributed as milk and buttermilk across Sabarkantha and Mehsana districts. As per the video shared by the FSSAI on X, 1,370 litres of unsafe milk were destroyed on the spot during the operation, and consumers were urged to stay alert and report suspicious dairy products.

As per the report, police seized adulteration materials including 450 kg whey powder 625 kg skimmed milk powder, 300 kg premium SMP powder, urea fertilizer, caustic soda, detergent powder, soybean oil and palmolein oil, besides 1962 litres of adulterated milk and 1180 litres of adulterated buttermilk meant for distribution. The report states that police have arrested four accused and a juvenile worker and the factory owner is absconding. Earlier also, in the same league a major crackdown on food adulteration took place in Jagatsinghpur district of Odisha, where a large-scale fake milk production and supply racket was busted. A five-member team conducted a surprise raid on a local milk storage and mixing unit and seized massive quantities of adulterated milk and milk powder stored in sacks, intended for mixing with natural milk. As per reports, milk was being procured from local farmers and then adulterated with powdered substances to increase volume and fat content — thereby making it appear thick and rich like pure milk.

As per police, around 50 packets were seized and collected samples have been sent to laboratory for tests. The investigation also revealed that the adulterated milk was allegedly being supplied to OMFED (Odisha State Cooperative Milk Producers’ Federation).

Adulteration of milk refers to the process in which the quality of milk is degenerated by adding chemical substitutes or any other ingredients of inferior quality. It is found that milk is commonly adulterated with water, detergents, starch, urea, synthetic milk, formalin, colouring agents. and even sweeteners.

As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), there are simple and easy ways that one can use at home to check purity of milk at home. Take a look at some of the simple and easy methods.

For this test, boil 2-3 ml of milk and let it cool down. Add 2-3 drops of iodine solution to the milk. If the milk is pure, colour will remain unchanged or will turn slightly yellowish and if it turns blue, then it is adulterated with starch.

For this test, take 5 ml of milk in a transparent glass and add an equal amount of water. Shake it well. Pure milk will have no lather or minimal lather formation, whole milk adulterated with detergent will have persistent lather or froth forms.

For this test, take 5 ml of milk in a test tube. Add an equal amount of soybean or arhar powder to it. Shake well and let it sit for 5 minutes. Dip a red litmus paper in it. If the red litmus paper remains red, milk is pure, and if it turns blue, milk is adulterated with urea.

Take 10 ml of milk in a test tube, add 2-3 drops of concentrated sulphuric acid along the sides of the test tube without shaking. If the colour of milk doesn't change, the milk is pure and if violet or blue rings are formed, the milk is adulterated with formalin.

Add 5 ml of milk and 5 ml of water in a test tube. Shake it well. If it doesn't form a stable lather, the milk is pure, and if it forms a persistent froth, then it is adulterated with synthetic detergents.

For this test, take a drop of milk on a polished and slanting surface. If the drop remains in place or flows slowly, leaving a white trail behind, the milk is pure. And if it drops quickly without a trail, then the milk is adulterated with water.

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