PESHAWAR: Sale of adulterated milk, transported in bulk from Punjab, has been causing health problems to people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to doctors.

“Adulterated milk is source of several ailments and people can develop cancer, diarrhoea and stomach-related complications and even sugar because of the starch,” Prof Noorul Iman, the dean of Khyber Medical College, told Dawn.

He said that people developed abdominal pain and induced vomiting by using contaminated milk.

“Excessive use of starch or carbohydrates can result in diabetes,” he said.

Sources say milk transported in huge quantity from Punjab

The health expert said that use of contaminated milk was a serious problem because it was an item used by all people on regular basis. “It is also illegal that the people are not getting the stuff for which they are paying. It is extremely dangerous practice and there should be awareness among the people as well as strict check on its sale to safeguard people against health problems,” he added.

He said that milk was used not only for tea-making but also for yogurt and lassi etc. “It means that milk has high consumption,” he said.

Prof Noorul Iman said that urea and formalin could cause cancer, liver and kidney-related ailments. He said that humans required natural and hygienic milk.

Riaz Mahsud, the director-general of Halal Food Authority, said they purchased test meters at Rs200, 000 a piece that would be given to the inspectors in all seven divisions to check quality of milk and other beverages and oil on the spot.

“We would impose penalties on the dealers selling contaminated milk. Our staff would regularly collect samples from the retailers and wholesale depots to see if it contains basic ingredients,” he said.

“He added that mobile laboratories were being purchased to ensure that impurities were checked and perpetrators punished. Sources said that containers from different parts of Punjab province transported the adulterated milk to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis. They said that the containers were emptied on the outskirts of Peshawar and the milk was transported in small drums to houses. “This practice is going on in all districts of the province,” they added.

Sources said that one could find original milk only in the morning because of its short supply but the adulterated milk was available for sale at the outlets round-the-clock.

Officials at Public Health Food Analysis Laboratory said that they received milk samples every day from different parts of the province.

They said that they found 50 per cent of the samples studded with urea, starch, formalin etc.

They said that the province didn’t have more buffaloes and cows for providing milk to the people so the market was replete with stuff that was studded with items injurious to health.

“The analysis of the samples has shown that suppliers use water, white powder, vegetable fat, detergent, refined oil, caustic soda, white paint urea, starch, oil and ghee for making synthetic adulterated milk to earn money because sale of pure milk cannot fetch them profit,” they said.

Published in Dawn, January 9th, 2018