Sir,
Thank God , a slight mention of adulteration in milk was made in the Parliament recently in reply to a question put by an member, otherwise either it is thought that the problem was beyond remedy or a complete silence over it was thought to be a prudent decision. It is shocking that 65% of the milk sold in the market is adulterated and detergents, chemical colours, caustic soda , urea , refined oil like substances are used as adulterants posing serious health threats to consumers most of whom are children. A country most of whose children are not lucky enough to consume a glass of milk pure and without adulteration , cannot boast of having done much to fight undernourishment of children as instead of doing any good , the poisonous milk is damaging their health.
In Jammu, despite a slight measure of testing and surprise checking of the stuff two years back which lasted for a few days only , nothing happened excepting Hartal by milk vendors and their success in hiking the prices of the milk products. Currently adulterated milk is sold boldly and openly in the market and even a slight random test or taste of say curd sold can speak volumes as to how much urea and other cheap adulterants it contains . Blotting paper like creamy layer, slight bitter taste (unless a bit of sugar was added before) of curds available at retail shops can be known just by its tasting.
Likewise cheese , when cooked looks like pieces of rubber as chemicals and other substances are mixed with it or whatever cream there removed for commercial use. Milk vans full of huge containers are hurriedly emptying the stuff at retail shops early in the morning and within hours it is sold and the story ends while those employed to check , verify , seize and prosecute are either silent or are in active connivance . The consumer is facing the problem on two fronts , he has to pay more and has to take home the adulterated stuff.
Has anybody made surprise visits to the source from where milk in huge containers come , or whether there are as many cattle heads which are really milked early in the morning honestly. Many milk vendors , on conditions of anonymity admitted that they were receiving adulterated milk and selling it too and besides other hazardous condiments, main thing was urea and dry milk powder of cheap quality and since consumers had no options, they were buying the same.
Jago adhikari jago.
Yours etc…..
Amit Verma
Gandhi Nagar
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel