LAHORE: A nationwide survey on milk quality and safety conducted by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) found 92% of loose milk samples to be non-compliant to quality and safety parameters.
Moreover, 54% milk samples were found unfit for human consumption. An event was held on 24th October at Avari Towers in Lahore to disseminate the results and press was invited to cover the event.
Five quality and safety parameters were tested for compliance with regulatory limits. These included Composition, Adulteration, Antibiotic Residues, Aflatoxin M1 and Heavy Metals. Loose milk was largely found non-compliant to these parameters.
There was no nationally representative data on the safety and quality of loose milk in the Pakistan and this national survey conducted by UVAS aimed to provide that. This national survey was conducted in the 11 major cities of Pakistan by Nielsen, a top multinational research agency which designed its sampling plan to ensure authenticity of results. A total 1206 loose milk samples were collected in the winter (n=603) and summer seasons (n=603).
The detailed findings of this research report were presented in a special health seminar in Lahore by Associate Professor Dr Azmat Ullah Khan from Department of Food Science & Human Nutrition (UVAS)/Principal Investigator of this project in Presence of UVAS Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Nasim Ahmed. Apart from this, Vice-Chancellor University of Education Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha (SI) also expressed his views on its importance on this occasion. President Pakistan Medical Association Prof Dr Ashraf Nizami also attended seminar.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Nasim Ahmed said that UVAS is working closely with livestock, poultry, dairy, meat and food industries and playing its lead role as think tank to solve their issues by arranging stakeholder roundtable meetings and conducting problem solving research.
Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha said that tractability is the only way to ensure food safety in our country. He urged to disseminate consumer awareness regarding quality food, farmer education and adopts latest method of milk supply chain for healthy milk.
Prof Dr Ashraf Nizami supported school meal programme to curb malnutrition and stunting issues in school going (growing age) students. At the end of seminar Prof Dr Snaullah Iqbal presented vote of thanks.
It is important to note that Pakistan is the 4th largest milk producing country in the world. 95% of the milk consumed is loose milk and it reaches the end consumer for immediate consumption through informal multi-layered distribution system of middleman (milkmen).
This traditional loose milk supply chain system is unorganized and non-regulated, thus quality of milk is hardly maintained and it results in serious food safety issues at consumer level.
This informal loose milk supply chain channel lacks proper transportation and storage facilities consequently quality of milk is lost. Loose milk is highly perishable and susceptible to microbial growth and survival, and is a vehicle of food borne pathogens.
In addition to microbial contamination, residues from antimicrobial drugs, pesticides’ residues, mycotoxins, heavy metals and adulterants have also been found in loose milk, that pose serious risk to our public’s health. This situation demands immediate intervention by regulatory authorities and mass awareness of the consequences for consumer health and safety. This is a national issue and a reason for big concern.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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