Abstract

IMPACT OF MILK ADULTERATION ON FOOD SAFETY AND HUMAN HEALTH IN INDIA: A REVIEW

Y. R. Bhamare*, M. B. Matsagar and C. G. Dighavkar

ABSTRACT

Food is essential for sustenance of life. Adulteration of food can pose serious risk to human health. Major food adulteration occurs with milk and milk products. Milk in its natural form has a high food value, since it is comprised of a wide variety of nutrients which are essential for proper growth and maintenance of the human body. Since ancient time in India; it is a significant part of the diet for a high proportion of the population. As a result of the large demand and growth in competition in the dairy market and the increasing complexity of the supply chain, some producers are involved in milk fraud. This malpractice has become a common problem in India, which lack strict vigilance by food safety authorities. Milk adulteration is done for financial gain, but it can also be adulterated due to unhygienic conditions. Water is the most common adulterant used, which decreases the nutritional value of milk. To the diluted milk, inferior cheaper materials are added such as reconstituted milk powder, urea, cane sugar and even more hazardous chemicals including melamine, formalin, caustic soda and detergents. These additions have the potential to cause serious health-related problems. This review aims to investigate the impacts of milk adulteration on food safety and it points out the adverse human health effects associated with the consumption of adulterated milk.

Keywords: adulteration, food safety, health, milk fraud, nutrition, malpractice, hazardous chemicals.