Lahore’s dairy production ‘seems dubious at best'

PFA found 8,000 litres of milk which was unfit for human consumption

LAHORE: There is a good chance that a large portion of Lahore’s 10 million-strong population is consuming milk which is not fit for human consumption.

Recently, the Punjab Food Authority found about 8,000 litres of milk, which according to the regulatory body, did not meet the necessary hygiene standards.

In a press release, the PFA said a crackdown was under way against milk producers who increased their production without following stringent quality control measures.

“The crackdown against milk adulterers amounts to peanuts because the mafia is too strong and cannot be caught without a proper mechanism,” commented Dr Salman Kazmi, a doctor of medicine at Mayo Hospital.



“Whether it is mixing water into milk or increasing production by injecting hormones/medicine into the cattle or the use of harmful urea; it all contributes towards adulteration,” he said.

“However, it is premature to say that all dairy producers are involved in the adulteration of milk. He added the government must devise a proper mechanism to vet of dairy shops and cattle farms,” he stated.

According to Dr Shagufta Feroz, founder of Synchronised Lifestyle Modification Programme and child specialist, the substandard food and lack of discipline is adversely affecting children’s health. Talking to The Express Tribune, she said unhealthy milk is unsafe for human consumption if it comes from a dubious source with poor storage facilities.

“Everyone can see that these dairy shops are selling milk in unhygienic conditions,” she highlighted.

She pointed out dairy products were among the richest sources of calcium and help build/maintain strong bones, nerve functions, muscle contractions and prevent blood clotting.



“Milk is a rich source of vitamins as it contains Vitamins A, Thiamine, Riboflavian and Niacin as well as Vitamin B12,” she added. The doctor pointed out that most of the population, unfortunately, was unaware of the actual definition of healthy milk.

A Euromonitor survey said Punjab’s milk consumption reached 41 billion litres on an annual basis of which 1 billion was ultra-high temperature treated. Nestle Pakistan Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications, Waqar Ahmed, said packed or unpacked milk, which is not vetted by international organisations and labs, can be harmful.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2017.