Is Your Milk Safe? How To Check For Adulteration At Home

Milk is a staple drink in many parts of the world. It is a highly nutritious drink, which is packed with essential calcium, vitamin D, and protein. From strengthening bones, teeth to muscles – milk has a host of benefits. But only if the milk is pure and unadulterated. On the other hand, adulterated milk can be harmful for health. Unfortunately, India has often come under the radar for its rampant production of adulterated milk. You can keep yourself safe by checking the milk you buy. But how can you identify adulterated milk? This article will tell you all about it.

To get an expert view on this, the editorial team of OnlyMyHealth reached out to Ms Edwina Raj, Head of Services - Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore.

What Is Adulterated Milk? 

Before we discuss tests to check adulterated milk, let us understand what it actually is. “Milk adulteration means mixing milk with water or harmful substances to increase quantity or improve thickness artificially. It is a common concern in many parts of India. Adulterated milk may contain added water, starch, detergent, urea, synthetic milk chemicals, or neutralisers. This can affect health, if consumed regularly. Drinking such milk may cause stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, or long-term health problems, especially in children and elderly people,” explains Ms Raj.

The National Survey on Milk Adulteration 2011 was conducted to check the contaminants present in milk in India. This was done especially for liquid milk, all over the country. The study discovered that due to absence of hygiene and sanitation in milk handling and packaging, detergents (used during cleaning operations) are not washed properly and are present in the milk. Other contaminants such as urea, starch, glucose, formalin were also used as adulterants. 

These adulterants are also used to increase the milk’s thickness and viscosity; this is done to preserve it for a longer period. The study mentioned that the consumption of milk with detergents is hazardous to health. About eight percent of the milk samples used for the research showed presence of detergents.

ALSO READ- Can Adults Really Drink Breast Milk? An Expert Explains the Health Pros and Cons

Characteristics Of Adulterated Milk 

Not just home tests, even physical features of milk can tell you a lot. On this note, our expert shares some characteristics that can help you identify adulterated milk.

“There are some simple characteristics that can help you suspect adulteration. Pure milk has a mild natural smell and slightly sweet taste, while adulterated milk may smell soapy or bitter. Pure milk feels smooth and slightly thick when rubbed between fingers, but diluted milk feels watery and thin. When boiled, pure milk forms a thick layer of cream on top, while diluted milk forms very little cream. If milk tastes unusually frothy or forms too much foam when shaken, it may contain detergent,” explains Ms Raj.

Home Tests To Identify Adulterated Milk

You can also try simple DIY hacks to check whether your milk is pure or not. Ms Raj lists down some home tests for the same:

• To check for water, put a drop of milk on a clean, slanting surface; pure milk will flow slowly and leave a white trail, while diluted milk will flow quickly without leaving much mark.
• To test for starch, add a few drops of iodine solution to cooled milk; if it turns blue, starch is present.
• To check for detergent, shake the milk in a bottle; if it forms thick foam that stays for a long time, detergent may be added.
• To test for synthetic milk, rub a small amount between your fingers; if it feels soapy and smells chemical-like, it may not be pure.

The Final Word

Drinking adulterated milk may lead to stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, or long-term health problems, especially in children and elderly people. Thus, it is always advisable to check its characteristics like smell and texture, to identify whether the milk is pure. You can also perform certain home tests to check whether the milk is adulterated or not.