Use of detergent in milk shocks citizens

Twin cities’ residents dismayed at supply of unhealthy drink

RAWALPINDI:

Citizens of the twin cities were left in complete shock and dismay after they found out the news that milk suppliers were using detergent powder to manufacture an adulterated and unhealthy drink for supplying it to various eateries and cafes in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

A couple of days ago, the Punjab Food Authority claimed that it foiled a bid to supply 10,000 litters of unhealthy milk made from laundry detergent to the twin cities.

According to the PFA, the adulteration mafia was bringing a large consignment of unhealthy milk from the Kot Momin area of Sargodha to supply it to various shops in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Health experts said unhealthy milk could cause cholera and other stomach diseases in children and adults.

The PFA said it took action in the early hours and used modern machinery to identify unsafe milk being supplied to the twin cities. Talking to The Express Tribune, the PFA officials said the food safety teams had received a tip-off that a large consignment of unsanitary milk would be supplied to Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

Acting on the tip-off, a strategy was devised and the PFA teams took action on Chakri Road in the wee hours. With the help of the local police, 28 milk-carrying vehicles coming from different cities were stopped and a total of 107,000 litres of milk was checked in the containers loaded on these vehicles.

The food safety teams used modern mobile lacto-scan machines to check the quality of milk and the milk loaded on four vehicles was found to be adulterated. After conducting detailed tests, it was found that the milk was prepared with detergent powder, the use of which could cause stomach diseases including cholera in children and adults.

In light of the detailed analytical report, the food safety staff immediately destroyed the unhealthy milk in the four vehicles.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 29^th, 2023.