A GLASS (250ml) of unadulterated whole milk will give around 146 kcals; eight gms of fat and protein with 257mg of calcium. Calcium and other vitamins and minerals in milk make it an important part of a healthful diet for people of all ages.

If you thought that a daily glass of milk is healthy, then think again. Milk is being adulterated with harmful substances like urea detergent powder and even caustic soda. It is sad to note that most Pakistanis are resigned to drinking milk diluted with water which not only reduces the nutritious value of milk but also poses serious risk to health.

The most commonly encountered adulteration is dilution with water. When the dilution is made with pure water it is a fraud, and when, as usually happens, the water is from an impure source, it is a crime.

Milk is sometimes artificially coloured by the addition of minute quantities of colouring matter, a little special pigment which imparts a yellowish color characteristic of good cream. Various preservatives are frequently added to the milk, notably borax, boric acid, salicylic acid, and formaldehyde, and these may be extremely detrimental to the digestion of milk in the case of infants and unhealthy children. The common sugar present in milk is lactose. Table-sugar-like sucrose is added to increase the carbohydrate content of milk and thus the density of milk increases. Soap is added to milk to increase the foaming of milk and thus make it thick. Urea is generally added in the preparation of synthetic milk to raise the value of non-fat solids. Ammonium sulphate is added to the milk as it increases the lactometer reading by maintaining the density of milk. Formalin is a preservative which can preserve milk for a longer period of time.

Synthetic milk is produced commercially in the market. The milkman prepares synthetic milk through the chemical composition formula

(1 kg cooking oil +1 kg milk) =X1 (10 kg water+1 kg dry milk)=X2 X1+X2= mixture Then in this mixture, people add water according to their needs. In this mixture, add CMC powder to increase its density. LR (natural component in milk) is not present in synthetic milk, so to fulfil this, people add urea, caustic soda.

Addition of such chemicals causes health problems, especially related to stomach and kidneys. The health impact of drinking milk adulterated with these chemicals is worse for children and females, resulting in early puberty and falling of hair. Caustic soda harms the mucosa of the food pipe, especially in kids.

The chemical which contains sodium can act as slow poison for those suffering from hypertension and heart problems.

I hope our legislators who are in the power corridors will find out a pragmatic solution to this problem.

TASRA ANJUM Lahore