Indian Food Safety and Standards Authority Finds 70% of Sampled Milk Adulterated or Diluted
A January study conducted by India's Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSA) found that approximately 70% of milk sampled was watered down or adulterated with a variety of contaminants.
FSSA found skimmed milk powder, glucose, hydrogen peroxide, fertilizer, bleach and detergent in the sampled milk, according to an analysis of the study conducted by Reuters. FSSA's study looked at 1,791 milk samples taken from all over India.
Certain regions fared particularly poorly in the study. Samples from West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand all showed traces of adulterants, and roughly 70% of samples from New Delhi showed traces of adulterants.
"Consumption of milk with detergent may cause health hazards and indicates lack of hygiene and sanitation in the milk handling," the agency said in a report.