CALCUTTA: Three lakhs and thirty two thousand pints or about 4,150 maunds of milk are daily consumed in the city of Calcutta in making luxury sweetmeats of which about 150 maunds are used for the manufacture of ice cream alone. There is a daily consumption of 1000 maunds of casein (achhan) for the manufacture of sweetmeats for which 4000 maunds of milk are required. The city’s actual milk consumption in liquid form at present is about 7000 maunds daily as compared with about 5000 maunds in 1936.

These figures are revealed in a memorandum by the Government of Bengal [for] issuing an order under the Defence of India Rules, to secure increased supply of milk in the city. That there is “serious extent of adulteration” in milk is also mentioned. Government, it is stated, recently checked the quality of milk sold in different parts of Calcutta and from different sources and out of 79 samples taken only 30 were found to be not adulterated.

The authorities think that by prohibiting the use of milk for the manufacture of sweetmeats and ice cream the quantity of fresh milk available for consumption in liquid form can be increased by more than 50 per cent. (Dawn, Delhi)

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014