The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) recently carried out a comprehensive survey on various types of milk under the National Milk Safety and Quality Survey 2018. This landmark survey was conducted by a third-party agency from May to October 2018, examining samples from both organised sectors such as retailers and processors and non-organised sectors that include local dairy farms, milk vendors and milk mandis.
The Findings of the Study
According to the study, about 93% of the milk samples were found to be safe for drinking. However, the remaining 7% contained contaminants like Aflatoxin-M1, pesticides and antibiotics. Interestingly, contamination rather than adulteration appeared to be a more significant issue.
Chemical contaminants may be introduced into the milk during production, processing or packaging phases. These hazardous substances could include veterinary drugs, heavy metals, radionuclides, mycotoxins and pesticides that can infiltrate animal feed and, as a result, end up in the milk produced. The most prevalent contaminant noted in milk is antimicrobial drugs.
Understanding the Problem of Adulteration
The intentional deterioration of food quality by either mixing with inferior substances or substituting valuable ingredients, or removing a crucial ingredient, is referred to as adulteration. The problem of Aflatoxin-M1 was found to be more prevalent in processed milk than raw milk.
Aflatoxin-M1 originates from feed and fodder, which are presently unregulated in India. The states of Tamil Nadu, Delhi and Kerala were identified as having the highest prevalence of this harmful residue.
Milk Quality Indicators
| Quality Parameter | Percentage of non-compliance |
|---|---|
| Fats | 37.7% |
| Solids not fat (SNF) | 37.7% |
| Maltodextrin | 37.7% |
| Sugar | 37.7% |
The survey discovered that 37.7% of the total sample of processed milk did not meet quality parameters due to contaminants such as fats, solids not fat (SNF), maltodextrin and sugar being above acceptable limits.
Aflatoxin-M1 and Its Dangers
Aflatoxins are deadly toxins produced by fungi typically found in crops like maize, peanuts and cotton seeds. These are carcinogenic in nature. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) study, the consumption of foods containing aflatoxin concentrations greater than one milligram per kilogram could potentially lead to aflatoxicosis, which induces acute liver failure, jaundice, fatigue and nausea, with death often being the ultimate outcome.
The Impact of Milk Contamination on Children
Adverse exposure to AFM1 from milk can cause stunting among children, which is the impaired growth and development resulted from undernutrition, recurring infection, and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. As per WHO Child Growth Standards, children whose height-for-age is over two standard deviations below the median are labelled as stunted. In India, chronic undernutrition leads to stunting in about 38% of children under five years old. Globally, undernutrition, including stunting, accounts for nearly half of all child deaths.