C Maya

Thiruvananthapuram, July 26 - A Government - sponsored study conducted recently by the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) in 13 districts in the State to determine the real standard of milk marketed here has found high levels of potent pathogenic organisms, Coliform, E.coli and Staphylococcus, in many samples of pasteurised milk sold in sachets.

The study has concluded that in general, the quality of milk available here in sachets, including that of Milma, is "not at all satisfactory" an that the microbiological standards are poor.

Some of the adulterants that were detected in the samples included ammonium sulphate, sodium bicarbonate, gelatin, cane sugar and residual detergents. The only consolation for consumers would be the fact that no antibiotics or pesticide resides were found in any of the samples.

While it may not come as a surprise to consumers that many milk samples failed to meet the fat and solid non-fats (SNF) standards, the fact that pathogenic organisms were detected in pasteurised milk should be a cause for concern.

The said study, conducted in November 2001, was taken up by the College of Dairy Sciences and Technology of the KAU, on a direction by the Kerala High Court on a public interest litigation (OP 22665) filed by one of the consumer activist's organisation here in October last year.

The government had sanctioned an amount of Rs. 8.41akhs for the project, which was conducted with the cooperation of the Department of Health in all districts except Idukki.
A total number of 144 samples from 33 brands of milk were taken for analysis. The samples were collected by food inspectors in the districts and then transported to the laboratory in chilled condition for microbiological examination and with preservatives for chemical examination.

Of the 144 samples, 73 were analysed for chemical parameters and 55 for microbiological analysis. Only 52 of the 73 samples met the minimum standard for fat and SNE

In general, the total number of samples meeting the PFA standard for both raw milk and pasteurised milk was just 12 out of 73. In all others, some form of fat/SNF deficiency or the presence of one or more adulterants was discovered.

In some districts like Kollam, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Wayanad and Kannur, there were no samples which met PFA standards, the study reports. Among the common adulterants tested, the milk samples were totally free from boric acid, hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide, However, 17 samples contained gelatin, 45 contained cane sugar, four samples had ammonium sulphate and 26 samples showed the presence of residual detergents. The microbiological standards of milk do not come under the PFA. However, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has fixed these standards.

In milk which is properly pasteurised, there should be no pathogenic organisms. According to the BIS, the maximum total microbial count in pasteurised milk is30,000 cfu/ ml, but if improperly stored, the count could go up. The fact that 17 samples of pasteurised milk had high microbial count would indicate that the process had not been done properly.

The study has stressed the point that the high coliform and E.coli count in the pasteurised milk sold here should be taken very seriously, because its presence indicates faecal contamination and the presence of other enteric pathogens. Staphylococcus aureus, a potent pathogen, was isolated from eight samples of pasteurised milk, which is very dangerous and such milk is unfit for human consumption.

What should come as a big relief to consumers is that all milk samples were totally free of antibiotics and pesticide residues, the tests for which were done at the National Dairy Research Institute, Bangalore. No residual DDT or Endosulphan or antibiotics like tetracycline or streptomycin.