The inflow of adulterated milk from Tamil Nadu into Kerala has increased especially in view of the upcoming Onam celebrations. Several lakhs of litres of milk reach Kerala every day from the neighbouring State.

The Dairy Development department on Thursday caught a tanker carrying 12,750 litres of urea-mixed milk at the Meenakshipuram check-post.

The presence of a high amount of urea was detected during a routine testing done at the Dairy Development department laboratory at Meenakshipuram.

“We did the test thrice to confirm and we were surprised to find a high amount of urea in the milk,” said Dairy Development Officer Abhin C.M. The tanker that came from Krishnagiri was carrying the milk to Thrissur. It was handed over to the Food Safety department for further action. The Food Safety department has reportedly sent the tanker back to Tamil Nadu after collecting samples for examination.

To ‘strengthen’ milk

It is suspected that urea was added for increasing the solids-not-fat (SNF) content of the milk. It is learned that some milk producers would add chemicals, including urea, to a tolerable level to strengthen the milk.

It is learned that milk from Tamil Nadu is largely being brought for use in Palakkad, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kochi, and Alappuzha.

Even if the department detects adulterated milk, it does not have the authority to act against the culprits. It can only hand over the milk to the Food Safety department.

The Hindu 19th Aug 2022